Study No.4, Op.40 [Moonlight Study] by Leonard Schulz

Study No.4, Op.40 [Moonlight Study] by Leonard Schulz (1813-1860) from Exercises and Studies for the Guitar, “The Indispensable”. PDF sheet music for classical guitar with performance and lesson video. Comes with both a notation edition with left hand fingering and a separate tab edition. The level is mid-intermediate (grade 7, or 5-8 range) depending on your technique, desired tempo, and level of refinement. The tempo is slow but there are a good amount of chord changes while focusing on the melodic line.

My PDF Sheet Music Edition

• Study No.4, Op.40 by Schulz from Werner Guitar Editions

The reference to the Moonlight Sonata, Piano Sonata No. 14 in C♯ minor, Op. 27, No. 2 by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) is purely editorial due to the similar texture and harmonies of the opening section. Schulz makes no mention of the sonata or Beethoven and quickly differentiates the work in the melodic major key section. Maybe I’ve made too much of the reference but I believe many listeners would immediately hear it during the first section so I took the leap and nicknamed it.

Leonard Schulz (1813–1860) was an Austrian guitarist, composer, and celebrated virtuoso of the Romantic era. Born in Vienna, he began performing as a child and toured Europe with his musical family, appearing in London, Paris, and other major centres. Schulz eventually settled in London and composed more than one hundred works for guitar, including études, arrangements, and concert pieces. 

Samples