First page of music of The Pathétique Sonata in C Minor, reprint of the first edition of 1799 Published by Hoffmeister & Co., Vienna, 1802 The Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies, San José State University

Much of the passion of the Grave (meaning "grave or serious in expression") introduction is communicated through the markings that indicate how loud or soft to play and where to place accents. The symbols "FP" (fortepiano), "SF" (sforzando), and "SFP" (sforzando-piano) direct the fortepianist to play three different kinds of unexpected strong accents. "P" stands for piano (soft); "cres" tells the player to get louder; and "FF" (fortissimo) means play very loud. Every measure of music has at least one dynamic marking; one has four!