| Beethoven's "Fur Elise" is probably one of the | | | | ever composed. |
| most recognizable pieces of music in the world. | | | | Let's examine for a moment the real title of the |
| Even if you don't recognize the name, you'll | | | | piece. "Bagatelle" is a style of music, and the term |
| recognize the melody when you hear it. The | | | | roughly translates to "a trifle." A bagatelle, in the |
| melodic strains of Fur Elise can be found online in | | | | musical world, is a musical form that is short, light |
| many forms, playing on baby toys, and in many | | | | and mellow. In addition, Beethoven's Fur Elise uses |
| classical music collections. | | | | another musical form, the rondo. It uses the A B |
| "Fur Elise" is not the piece's official title. It's actually | | | | A C A structure with some variations. |
| Bagatelle in A Minor WoO59. People know it as | | | | Furthermore, the melody is in A minor, but this |
| "Fur Elise," a German phrase that means "For | | | | shouldn't come as a surprise as Beethoven's |
| Elise." This famous piece became known to the | | | | music tends to be in this key. Woven into the |
| world as "Fur Elise" because of the controversy | | | | piece are discordant notes and shifting of the |
| that surrounds it. "Fur Elise" is actually a dedication | | | | tonal center. The result? A melody that is |
| note that Beethoven wrote on the manuscript. | | | | timeless. |
| So who is Elise? More importantly, who was she in | | | | The ability that Beethoven possessed to put raw |
| Beethoven's life? Many believe that Beethoven | | | | emotions to music is captured forever in the |
| wrote the emotional piece in 1810, the year when | | | | notes of Fur Elise. Arguably his most popular piece |
| he hoped to marry a woman named Therese | | | | written, it is amazing that it was not played during |
| Malfatti. Therese, however, turned down | | | | his lifetime for an audience. It is a shame that Fur |
| Beethoven's proposal of marriage. Many theorize | | | | Elise was only found long after Beethoven's death. |
| that the person who transcribed the piece after | | | | Perhaps he could have shed some light on who |
| Beethoven's death incorrectly read the dedication | | | | the mysterious Elise was that so inspired him. The |
| in the manuscript. Instead of translating it as "Fur | | | | melody touches many people even today, who |
| Therese", he translated it as "Fur Elise." | | | | don't even know of the mysteries that surround |
| The above account is by no means accurate. | | | | it. One can hope that whoever Elise was, that she |
| Many scholars dispute the account. They contend | | | | got to hear the music that she inspired. |
| that Elise is probably another woman in | | | | One would think that even if the mystery were |
| Beethoven's life or it may have just been a name | | | | cleared up, Fur Elise would continue to delight |
| that Beethoven decided to scrawl on his | | | | music lovers for centuries to come. The emotions |
| manuscript. Needless to say, the jury is still out on | | | | that we feel through Beethoven's music continues |
| the real score on the story behind "Fur Elise." | | | | to touch everyone who hears it, whether they be |
| But regardless of how Beethoven came to write | | | | young or old. Beethoven's Fur Elise will continue to |
| this emotional and memorable piece, no one can | | | | be a favorite among those who play the piano, as |
| question it's place in the world of classical music. | | | | well as anyone who enjoys any form of classical |
| It's undeniably one of the greatest classical pieces | | | | music. |