Today in HistoryâApril 27: Beethovenâs most popular song
On this day in 1810, composer Ludwig van Beethoven shared his feelings in a beautiful piano piece, FĂŒr Elise, meaning âFor Elise.â But it was not published during his lifetimeâin fact not until 1867, 40 years after his deathâpresumably because he was never quite satisfied with the composition. Indeed, he never even named it: âFĂŒr Eliseâ was a dedication that he wrote on the sheet music.
At least, thatâs how musicologist Ludwig Nohl transcribed the pieceâs manuscript, which he found in 1867 among a collection of Beethovenâs documents. Nohl then published the composition under that name, and it eventually became immensely popularâarguably the most popular piano piece ever written.
Even if youâre not familiar with the title, you almost certainly have heard the tune. Its melodies are familiar because theyâve been used as themes or background music in movies, television series, and commercials. FĂŒr Elise has even become a ringtone.
Nevertheless, there remains a controversyâor at least an uncertaintyâamong musicologists regarding the accuracy of Nohlâs transcription and thus the true identity of Beethovenâs dedicatee.
In other words, who did Beethoven write FĂŒr Elise fĂŒr?
Beethoven proposed to three different women. None said yes.
One candidate is Elisabeth Röckel, a close friend of Beethovenâs who performed as a soprano in his opera Fidelio. Another is Elise Barensfeld, also one of Beethovenâs operatic friends. And yet another is Therese Malfatti, a woman Beethoven proposed to in 1810 (Malfatti declined his request). Those who identify Elise as Malfatti contend that Nohl simply misread Beethovenâs handwriting of the name Therese.
Regardless, Beethovenâs FĂŒr Elise is short and light. Itâs structured as a rondo, in which an initial or main melody is repeated in between one or more contrasting segments. Itâs also a bagatelle, meaning a brief âunpretentious instrumental composition.â Maybe Beethoven wouldnât want us fretting about who itâs fĂŒr after all these years.
Listen to it, appreciate its form and content, and be profoundly moved.
- 9: Symphonies Beethoven composed
- 4,000 florins: Beethovenâs annual salary
- 44 to 45: Beethovenâs age when he became completely deaf
- 1749: Music for the Royal Fireworks by George Frideric Handel premieres
- 1840: The first stone is laid for the rebuilding of the British Houses of Parliament
- 1937: The U.S. government issues the first Social Security checks
