Mondscheinwalzer in A-flat, Anhang 16 nr. 4 (mp3)

Mondscheinwalzer, Anhang 16 nr. 4

This spurious waltz, the Moonlight Waltz, was published by Kahnt in Leipzig sometime after 1852. It is one of the many fraudulent waltzes issued in the 19th century under Beethoven's name, long after he was dead. It does have the merit of a moody Adagio introduction in 4/4 before launching into the waltz itself. The title no doubt arises from the Watlz's middle section, which unabashedly cribs a motif from the "Moonlight" Sonata, op. 27 nr. 2.

WoO: Anh. 16
Hess: Anh. 36

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