Beethoven is using the missing fundamental trick on Moonlight Sonata

When our brain is presented with 2nd, 3rd, 4th etc harmonics, it creates the fundamental although it is objectively missing.


It is not there but our brain creates it.


Beethoven is taking great advantage of this on Moonlight sonata making the piano sound so bassy it is scary.


For example at a point when the left hand plays C2 G2 C3, a C1 fundamental is synthesized by our brain to our perception.


Reference:


Moonlight Sonata score - Beethoven