Beethoven dedicated the Pathétique Sonata to Lichnowsky ... There is an almost 'orchestral' texture to much of the piano writing, with chords marked forte-piano at the opening and a timpani ...

But there are exceptional cases, and the case of the 32 Beethoven piano sonatas is certainly one of them. The sonatas make up a wonderfully diverse yet utterly cogent and self-contained body of work.

Ludwig van Beethoven and the piano were two of the most exciting new qualities of music in the 18th century and both are showcased in his Sonata Op.13 No.8 in C minor, Pathétique, first movement.