L. Beethoven "To Elise"
Sometimes, we do not even think about the fact that well-known and beloved musical works have sometimes a difficult history and their appearance envelops many secrets and mysteries.
This may be due to the history of writing, with the sudden discovery of a long-lost manuscript, and sometimes with the title. One of such works is familiar to literally every one of you - it is L. Beethoven's piano play “To Elise”. By the way, this is not the only such case in the works of the composer. "Moonlight Sonata" is not at all moonlight, and Beethoven himself was probably very surprised to learn that the work has that name. Why are there surprised, knowing his explosive nature! The maestro himself decided to write a “Sonata in the spirit of fantasy” and dedicate it to another sweetheart Juliet Guchchardi. The name "Moonlight" was given to him by his friend Ludwig Relsta.
The history of Beethoven’s "To Elise" miniature and the content of the work can be found on our page.
The story of the creation "To Elise"
It is noteworthy that the piano miniature "To Elise" can rightly be called the most famous work of Beethoven. Originally, the composer entitled her as Bagatelle No. 25 in A minor, the very name "Für Elise" was just a subtitle. What caused such popularity? First of all, it is connected with the wide use of the play when learning to play the piano. It is included in the compulsory program in music schools. In addition, a beautiful, sonorous and at the same time not complicated work could not go unnoticed and immediately fell in love with the public.
The play was published in 1867, only 40 years after the death of Beethoven himself a researcher of his work. It is considered that the work was created in 1810. It was during this period of time that his other masterpiece, the Egmont Overture, was created, the outline of which was written on the same sheet of paper as the bagatel.
But back to the most important riddle of the work "To Elise." It is known that he was discovered by musicologist Ludwig Zero, who was studying the biography of the maestro. A mysterious inscription was visible on a piece of paper - the dedication of a certain Elise from L.V. Beethoven. But who is this mysterious stranger and what role did she play in the life of a genius? Maybe this is the same distant beloved or another new passion of the great symphonist in love?
Since the discovery, many researchers have been working tirelessly on the work. So, in 2009, Luca Chiantore, who had been involved in this work for eight years, said that this version has nothing to do with the composer. Unconditional, the theme and the notes themselves belong to the pen of the maestro, in this there is no doubt. Luka Chiantore said that the leaf with the mysterious dedication never existed. A little earlier, in 1923, another researcher, Max Unger, put forward a version that it turned out the work was addressed to the trust maestro Teresa Malfatti von Rohrenbach zu Dezza, with whom he was in love. Luvig Zero erroneously interpreted the writing on the manuscripts without understanding the handwriting. In confirmation of this indicated that it was she who had these notes for a long time.
Another musicologist, Martin Kopitz, said that "To Elise" was addressed to vocalist Elizabeth, who was the sister of his close friend. An interesting version also has a place to be, like all the others.
Well? Still not tangled in numerous Elizabeth? All these versions were refuted by a Canadian researcher Rita Steblin, who, after examining the available material, came to the conclusion that it is a question of Eliza Barensfeld, a student of Teresa Malfatt herself. She had amazing vocal abilities and started giving concerts early, and Beethoven dedicated the play to this pupil to please Teresa.
Who among the many researchers of Beethoven’s life and work is 100 percent right no one can say for sure, at this time all musicologists are inclined to Rita Steblin’s version. If this is true, then all the numerous students of all children's music schools, whose compulsory programs are part of "K Elise," received another impetus to study this work, because the play was written and dedicated to their peers.
"To Elise" - notes:
Download sheet music
Download sheet music
Content "To Eliza"
The largest virtuoso who shook all his contemporaries with the power of improvisation, Beethoven mastered the piano perfectly. It is noteworthy that if the symphonic work for the composer was a sphere of mainly monumental, majestic designs, then in his piano works Beethoven tried to reflect the inner life of a person, penetrating into the world of his feelings and experiences, even the most secret ones. It is in these works that the maestro has practically expressed what he felt. The composer's piano music can be called his diary, in which he diligently recorded life observations and of course experiences.
Speaking about the content of the play "To Eliza" it is worth noting that during the period of its creation, the lyrics of Beethoven more often penetrate the lyrics of feelings. It is these spiritual experiences that can be heard in such a small but significant composition.
Let's try to disassemble it, so that it is clear what exactly Beethoven wanted to say. Here, first of all, it should be noted that the form of the play is rondo (from Italian. Circle). In this case, the main theme (refrain) alternates with episodes that are mostly always of a slightly different character. Now think, what word would fully describe the main theme? Listen, maybe Love? Perhaps it is just so lyrically, gently, the composer imagined how he is recognized in the feelings of his distant lover. And what about the second theme, episode? She already has a slightly different character and it was more appropriate to compare it with the hope of reciprocity or the joy of anticipation of an early meeting with her beloved. Do you agree? The main theme comes back again, and with it the feelings of the composer.
The third theme bursts in with completely new intonations and moods. This is not the old lyrics, but the torments, the companion's mental anguish and the inevitable parting. The play ends with the return of the main theme - love, but it is already perceived somewhat differently.
Surprisingly, if you feel this work, you can plunge into the secret pages of Beethoven’s life, “hear” his feelings that he had for his beloved and feel the composer’s personal feelings about his unrequited love.
Popular processing and execution "To Elise"
Of course, such a popular work constantly attracted performers from different countries and eras. A large number of interesting performances and original treatments have been preserved.
For example, a well-known band from Holland, Shocking Blue, used Beethoven’s composition in their single “Broken heart”, which was included in the 1972 album.
An interesting heavy metal-processing was performed by the German team Accept, which presented it in 1985. A little later, the performers from Norway, known as Dimmu Borgir, presented their cover version of this composition, performed in the same style.
Many music fans fell in love with the blues version of "To Elise", recorded by Wolf Hoffmann in 1997.
Play modern processing:
Accept Fur Elise (Metal Heart) (listen)
Shocking Blue - Broken Heart (listen)
Wolf Hoffmann (listen)
Among the classic versions, the most popular among music lovers was the performance of the play by the American pianist of Ukrainian origin, Valentina Lisitsa, in London in 2012, together with the Philharmonic Orchestra. Together with the orchestra, Bagatel was performed by Georgy Cherkin in 2010, and this version has also received wide recognition from a large audience. You can not ignore the performance "To Eliza" by Alexander Malkus.
Just pay attention, one and the same work, in which not a single note has been changed, sounds completely different, showing completely new sides of the great maestro's soul!
Not every composer boasts such a work, which is known literally in every corner of the planet. This small piano piece can be safely called Beethoven's calling card, which shows us a completely different composer, not a reformer, but a more sensitive romantic. You must agree that many graduates of music schools, no matter what instrument they play, enjoy playing the first bars of this piece, but not all of them suspect the depth of feelings and personal composer’s drama behind each note of bagatelles.
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