My performance of Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata released worldwide on January 26, 2021. Sample and stream on Spotify above, or any music service including Amazon Music, Apple Music, and Pandora, or listen directly below.

I hope you enjoy my thoughts down below as I share a little about the history of this timeless classic, my experience with the music, and how these inspired my version…

This popular Ludwig van Beethoven composition for piano was composed in 1801 in Vienna, Austria. Moonlight Sonata became part of my life at age fourteen. Its full name is Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 27, No. 2 (Sonata Quasi Una Fantasia). When the first movement, Adagio sostenuto, entered my story this classical piece became one of my favorites in high school as I learned and memorized it to play in some recitals and as part of a program to be judged and critiqued. J.S. Bach is my all-time favorite composer, but I also enjoyed playing famous pieces by Beethoven, Chopin, Mozart, and more.

Over the years, every now and then, I would get out my original, classical piano book with tattered pages and play through Moonlight Sonata just for fun. The idea of recording my performance was in the back of my mind for a while, and came to the forefront in the early fall of 2020. In November I was ready to take this project on, and now the world gets to hear the result.

I had forgotten Beethoven composed this in Vienna. My family and I took our first overseas trip together in December 2014. Our favorite movie is The Sound of Music, so we wanted to visit Salzburg and tour several of the filming locations. We landed in Vienna on Christmas Eve, and attended a standing room only Christmas Eve service at St. Stephen’s Cathedral in the heart of the city. Even though the speaking was in German, we could feel the miracle and hope of Christ’s birth in the air. The symphony, choir, and organ music was breathtaking to hear as we soaked in the moment. The favorite photo I captured inside the cathedral became the above artwork for this new single.

At the opening of Moonlight Sonata’s first movement, Beethoven included the following direction in Italian: “Si deve suonare tutto questo pezzo delicatissimamente e senza sordino” (“This whole piece ought to be played with the utmost delicacy and without dampers”). The way this is accomplished (both on today’s pianos and on those of Beethoven’s day) is to depress the sustain pedal throughout the movement, or at least to make use of the pedal throughout, but re-applying it as the harmony changes. The modern piano has a much longer sustain time than the instruments of Beethoven’s time, so that a steady application of the sustain pedal creates a dissonant sound, and can overdo what he intended. Also, later in the 19th century the grand piano sounded even better than in 1801.

My unforgettable Christmas Eve inside St. Stephen’s Cathedral and Beethoven’s directions for the performance of this piece converged into the idea to play and record the piece as though I was all alone at concert grand piano in the center of this historic cathedral (construction began in the 12th century, with towers and spires added over the centuries). In my studio I was able to combine a 1951 Steinway D concert grand piano with gentle hints of an old upright piano to recreate an “older” grand piano sound. I wanted the piece to sound like what Beethoven might have heard as he composed this in 1801 in Vienna (he did not fully lose his hearing until later). He would have frequently seen the cathedral in all its grandeur, and I imagined him playing inside. His directions inspired me to be generous in using the sustain pedal, and to use a cathedral sized reverb, which would further provide and enhance the “blur” effect which he intended for the piece.

Emotionally, the music is very sad, yet it is also hauntingly beautiful at the same time. Beethoven’s genius in creating this fantasy world in the key of C-sharp minor has and never will be duplicated. It is magnificent, and for me symbolizes God’s beauty and hope in my life even when I am sad, or going through a difficult time. I pray you are touched and moved in a meaningful way as you listen to my version of Moonlight Sonata.

Click above to listen to a portion of Longing for Heavenly Country as you read. Visit climbtothesky.com for links to this 10th and newest album, music video, CD, MP3 Album, Sheet Music, iTunes, Amazon, and Spotify.

What does “Longing for Heavenly Country” mean to you when you first read this phrase?

This blog post is dedicated to my friend Craig, and in honor and memory of his wife Kellie. I just found out overnight that Kellie passed away from cancer at age thirty-nine, on October 13th, the day of my Atlanta release concert for the new album Climb to the Sky (“Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit? to be out of your sight? If I climb to the sky, you’re there!” Psalm 139:7-8, The Message).

The new song Longing for Heavenly Country inspired by Hebrews 11:16, is deeply connected to the album cover art that Craig created in 2011 for my 7th album A Thousand Years. As you listen to the melody, take a look at the image Craig created below. Pause and study it for yourself, for a minute or two. Take in the amazing creativity, and the elements illustrating the inspiration from Psalm 90:4, “A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.” (NIV)

Then, see below the image for how it captures the essence of Longing for Heavenly Country…

With God’s grace and help, Craig and Kellie demonstrated great faith during her battle with cancer. Even though we cannot understand or explain many things that happen during our life on earth, or how God’s ways are often mysterious, Craig and I were discussing how He tells us His ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). Below are five of the rich symbols of “Heavenly Country” in Craig’s image for A Thousand Years.

1. The Dove. The Holy Spirit descended on Jesus like a dove, and is our Guide, Counselor and Comforter (Matthew 3:16, Isaiah 11:2, 2 Corinthians 1:4).
2. The Flowing Water. “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” (John 7:38, NIV)
3. The Overflowing Cups. “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows…” (Psalm 23:5, NIV)
4. The Books Holding Up the Piano. One of these is an old Bible. “Your word is a lamp for my feet.” (Psalm 119:105, NIV).
5. The Shoes for the Piano Pedals. These are Craig’s grandfather’s shoes. They are a symbol of our legacy, of God’s faithfulness, that we pass down to our children, and our children’s children (Deuteronomy 4:9).

Kellie has a perspective on these truths, these glimpses of heaven, that we do not yet fully know. I am certain she would want us to know how much Jesus loves us, believes in us, and forgives us, even though sometimes we may not feel like we love him, believe in Him, or have been forgiven by Him. Today I give thanks to God for Craig and Kellie being part of my life and music story.

How does the music and these words speak into your “longing for heavenly country?”

“Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.” — Hebrews 11:16 (NIV)

Climb to the Sky is my brand new album release. Click the play button above to  enjoy a sample as you read. To listen to all 12 tracks visit the Climb to the Sky album page. Also, I hope you will pause to enjoy the new Climb to the Sky Music Video.

What are some ways you like to “climb to the sky” in life? Today as an adult? When you were a child?

Several weeks ago I posted Climb to the Sky – Part 1, so if you would like to read this first you can click here. Since writing this title track song in February 2016, I have been meditating on Psalm 139:8 “If I climb to the sky you’re there…” This verse is rooted in the opening words of this Psalm, “God, investigate my life; get all the facts firsthand. I’m an open book to you; even from a distance, you know what I’m thinking. You know when I leave and when I get back; I’m never out of your sight.”

Before performing this piece as the closing number for that Atlanta release concert, I shared with the audience some of the “broken stories” from my life. About how I stuttered when I was five years old, and this made me very shy. How I had to get glasses when I was ten years old, and didn’t wear them until I was thirteen (but could still make a lot of basketball shots without them). How a sixth grade “girl friend” broke up with me because I had not kissed her. And how for many years I was striving to succeed and meet people’s expectations for my life, through my college and early career years.

Then I shared how we are all on a “climb to the sky” in life. As children, this could have been climbing trees, flying a kite, or looking out an airplane window for the first time. As adults, this can also come from life experiences we enjoy, but for me, my “climb” is founded on a perspective that life is an “adventure to live” instead of a “problem to solve” (credit to John Elredge from his book Wild at Heart). This is some of the wonder and awe found in Psalm 139. The entire Psalm is definitely worth a read.

As you hear the piano “climbing” with the chorus notes, join me in remembering to keep alive your child-like, to give thanks for life’s many blessings, and to embrace the adventure God has in store for you, by faith. He loves us and knows us more than we can comprehend.

How does the music of “Climb to the Sky” speak to you?