“Beethoven’s Therese”

“Für Elise” (German for For Elise) is the common name of the “Bagatelle in A minor“, written by Ludwig van Beethoven in 1810. The song is thought to be written for Therese, a woman that Beethoven wanted to marry in 1810, however his handwriting was misspelt undergoing transcription, allowing the piece to be known as Fur Elise rather the Fur Therese. Therese did not want to marry him.

Some people say that she was in fact his student who was very mediocre and he, therefore, wanted to compose something which was simple, yet profound. In the midst of composing it, she refused to marry him and he therefore made the subsequent verses so difficult that she could never play it.

The piece of music, which was written for the piano, was not published until 1865, a long time after Beethoven’s death. It is one of the most well-known pieces of piano music in the world. Many young pianists want to learn to play it.