But he never published this piece of music. On April 27th, 1810, Beethoven drafted a bagatelle - a small, unimportant song - and jotted the label "Für Elise" on it in his famously messy handwriting. Although the very next year he stopped performing in public altogether, he never stopped composing. He was also already plagued by the horrible tinnitus that preceded his eventual deafness. In 1810, when he was 40 years old, Ludwig van Beethoven was already renowned as one of the greatest composers of all time. I wouldn't be surprised if there's a cat-playing-violin version out there somewhere. Do a quick search and check out the versions played by wildly talented four-year-old prodigies! At the same time, the piece's arpeggios make it a popular choice for classical guitar interpretations like this one.īecause Für Elise is so incredibly popular, there are a million and one versions of it on YouTube. On the piano, there is a great blues-imbued version, as well as a ragtime version. Then, you can explore interesting takeoffs, samples, and modifications. Start with this straightforward Für Elise piano recording: And finally, the romantic and mysterious possibilities of its name make us wonder about the identity of Elise and the love life of its composer!īefore diving into the history and background of this piece, here are some versions that will give you a great sense of the range of interpretations out there. At the same time, because its first part is easy even for a beginner piano player to learn, but is also beautiful, it is often assigned by piano teachers the world over, perpetuating its fame. Why has this piece been so popular ever since its publication? Musically, Für Elise is deeply melodic and full of nostalgic feeling, with a relatively simple harmony that makes it very accessible and not overly intellectually demanding. We only have it because a musicologist found it and published it in 1867!Īnd it's a good thing for us that Für Elise was finally found! Its first five notes (alternating E and D-sharp) have become as famous as the booming da-da-da-dum first notes of Beethoven’s 5th Symphony. Ludwig van Beethoven wrote Für Elise 1810 as a small piece for the piano, and then put it aside with his many other draft works. It may even be the most famous melody ever written! But did you know that when Beethoven first drafted this short piano piece, he stuffed it in a drawer, never to be seen in his lifetime?Ĭurious how it went from forgotten trifle to universally known? Wondering what exactly makes it such an unforgettable earworm? Need some tips on learning to play this piece? Then keep reading for everything you've ever wanted to know about one of Beethoven's best-known masterpieces. From its first repeating notes, Für Elise is instantly recognizable.
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