Ludwig van Beethoven
Für Elise
in A Minor

The graceful, meandering simplicity of this slightly melancholy music never loses its charm. The opening phrase is one of the best known motifs in classical music.

ID: 50
Key: A Minor
Year: 1810
Level: 5
Period: Classical
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The mysterious Elise

Für Elise (or Bagatelle in A minor WoO 59) is a rondo with two episodes - the form can be described as A-B-A-C-A. Its beautiful sequence of continuous rolled chords divided between the hands is one of the most well-known piano themes of all time. One of the things that makes this piece so hypnotic is the stubborn sixteenth note movement, continued almost throughout the piece, and only changed at a couple of very strategic places for maximum effect. There are two short passages where the speed of the notes increases: the first episode has five bars with thirty-seconds, and the second episode has five bars with sixteenth-note triplets. In connection with these passages, there are also two places where the continuous movement is stopped (bars 35-36 and 75-76). In addition, there is the very peculiar jumping E octaves towards the end of the A section. All this adds to the impression that the music is somehow trying to break free from its melancholy meanderings, but is always reined in by the recurring E-D# motif.

Background

The piece was composed in Beethoven's middle period. The discoverer of the piece, Ludwig Nohl, affirmed that the original autographed manuscript, now lost, was dated 27 April 1810. However, it was not published until 1865, several decades after the composer's death, by the Beethoven scholar Ludwig Nohl.

The title, meaning "To Elise", has puzzled Beethoven researchers. There is no record of any woman named Elise in Beethoven's life, and the fact that the original autograph manuscript is missing has fueled speculation. One of the most established theories, suggested by Max Unger, is that Nohl misread the dedication, and that Beethoven intended to name the piece "Für Therese". Around 1810, Beethoven was in love with a woman called Therese Malfatti, and even proposed to her, but was rejected. The other main theory is that Elise might have been a nickname for the opera singer Elisabeth Röckel, Beethoven's close friend, who later married the composer Johann Nepomuk Hummel.

Practice & Performance Tips:

Because of its great popularity, Für Elise is perhaps played and taught more than any other piano piece. For many piano beginners, its an important goal to be able to play at least the first section. And the first 22 measures are certainly playable even for someone with quite limited skills. To be able to perform the complete work, one should have acquired a more solid technique.
Since the only dynamic indication of the score is pp (measures 1 and 77), it’s suitable to use a rather subdued and soft touch more or less throughout, although one is of course free to add slight crescendos and diminuendos, perhaps even approach a forte in the dramatic episode at measures 60-76 (before the return to pianissimo).
Strive to keep a consistent speed through the various sections. Make sure not to play the characteristic E-D#-E-D#-E figures mechanically; instead, shape them with great care, always adhering to the graceful flow of the 3/8 time... Sign up for a Gold membership to read the practice tips.


Forum posts about this piece:

What piece do you guys suggest? by pianoguy2009
Hi, I am a pianist who just passed grade 6(with distinction)ABRSM and I’m about to start grade 8(yes, I skipped grade 7) and I’m looking...

Best edition of Beethoven bagatelles? by kosulin
Hi, What (preferably Urtext or Critical) edition would you consider the best? Ideally it should include all bagatelles, including both versi...

ABRSM Performance by barline
Hey, I am an intermediate pianist and I am going to take the ABRSM Grade 5 soon. I am unsure whether my pieces are good. I am aiming for a m...

Hand position and pedaling, help? by lexi2k17
Hi, I am new to the forum, thought I would ask a question. I have self-taught myself piano for 14 years, and I can now comfortably play ad...

So someone approached me to teach them piano by ranjit
It was mostly as a favor. I taught them how to recognize notes, how to construct major and minor scales and chords, constructing chords base...

Doesn't everybody hate music and Beethoven? by j_tour
I'm just so glad [url=www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=67288.0]this[/url] turd is allowed to exist. I hate Beethoven as well. ...

5 Pieces to Play Instead of Fur Elise by fredviner
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsfRZSaTS9s If you're looking for more obscure intermediate repertoire, then this is the video for you! ...

Next Piece by cjb368
Hello, I will be starting my 4th year of piano studies in 2021. I am self taught, except for 5 lessons my wife gave me as a gift. The lesson...

"Fur Elise" by Beethoven. Common mistakes to avoid. by vladimirdounin
I did not find on You Tube a single pianist, who played in “Fur Elise”  the music written by the composer. Everyone I'...

Fur Elise last measure by renie
I have 2 Alfred piano method books with Fur Elise.  An older book shows the RH in the last measure playing one 8th note A.  The Al...

How long to play fur elise full version at a satisfactory level by thomas82
Hi, I have started learning this piece fur elise for a few weeks. Able to tackle section A comfortably but section B and C i have a hard ti...

Easy coordination pieces for older beginners by shine11
Hello I have a lot of older beginners starting up recently. By "older" I mean 50+. As all us teachers know, the coordination si...

What to learn... by jodecahedron
Hiya! This is my first post... but I'm glad I found this site so expect to see me a lot :) I'm a student studying grade 5  ...

Your thoughts on my teacher & help by pianist7s
So, this will be my 3rd Piano Teacher and I been watching his piano videos for weeks. I like his piano playing. I think he be great teacher ...

What piece should I learn next? by ranjit
So, I have been learning piano (on a keyboard) on my own since about a year. I can play Fur Elise and Chopin Nocturne Op 9 no. 2. However, I...

What piece should I learn next? by johnnypresto
I started playing a year ago and I'm not seeing a teacher (though I plan to start soon), but so far I've managed to learn pieces l...

The Polonaise by Bach by 1piano4joe
Hi all, I read in several different sources that the Polonaise is ALWAYS accented on the 3rd beat. There are 3 Bach Polonaises which stra...

Help please by woodenfarts
Hello nice people , My mom started teaching me piano when i was 6 , I kept playing till i reached grade 7 and stopped because i was lazy and...

Advice on Recital Piece by mariesan
Hello! I need advice for a recital piece this coming December. I don't know my piano grade but I've played piano for almost 4 year...

Students who want to play advanced pieces and avoid step-by-step learning by dagny_taggart
I have students who are interested in playing Fur Elise, The Entertainer and other popular classical pieces within the first year of learnin...

Evaluation of my current level by aszer97
Hey everybody :), I'm new here so I don't know if its the right section to ask.  ??? I'm 19-Years old and played piano...


Member's recordings of piece:

Für Elise in my new environment :) by stylerpiano
Hello forum mates. I continue to play the piano now in my new environment, I'm starting with Für Elise. I'm an amateur pianist, but...

[video] BEETHOVEN, Ludwig van: Für Elise :) by claudioportella
I know. Many people hate this piece. But it is fun to play and I can use some feedback. youtu.be/c8olNvMxLCw...

VIDEO: Beethoven - Fur Elise by srose02
Hi everyone, Newbie piano player here, started playing in January 2016 and been putting lots of hours in but have no teacher as of yet. I ...

Beethoven - Fur Elise by whitewing95
Hi this is my first post here at this site ;D I am a self taught pianist I had no music teacher or music lessons (except some videos no yout...


Members who like this piece have also downloaded:

Ludwig van Beethoven: Für Elise in A Minor - piano sheet music to print instantly. This piece is level 5 and was composed during the Classical period.
This piece is composed by Ludwig van Beethoven and was published in 1810. Title: Für Elise, in A Minor . The difficulty level if graded by ABRSM would be approximately 5 and it belongs to the Classical period.