Monday, 23 January 2012

Für Elise; no, Für Therese more likely!

Those who you have seen the comedy film Wayne's World where in a guitar shop, Stairway To Heaven is banned, may have a similar love hate relationship with Fur Elise. Perhaps the most popular, some may say overplayed piece of the piano repertoire. But perhaps, if you knew the story behind the piece, you would think differently, and perceive it more favorably.  "Für Elise“ WoO 59; is its identification in the Beethoven ouevre assigned in 1955, WoO in german translates to "without opus number" so it's a way of cataloging Beethoven's piano works that weren't officially published during his lifetime.

In 2010, PBS (Public Broadcasting Station) in the United States aired
Therese Malfati (Beethoven dedicated Fur Elise)
Keyboard conversations with Jeffrey Siegel which gave  a charming background to the infamous 'Fur Elise' piece.

Jeffrey Siegel, a Steinway artist and concert pianist presents this enlightening documentary. Fur Elise, I'm sure, every piano student knows it as well as their parents remarks Siegel. Is it a teaching piece for his students? No it isn't, as the piece was originally written in April 1810, as a private 'love poem,' not meant for publication. According to Siegel, 1827; 40 years later, in 1867,  the manuscript of "Fur Elise" was found amongst the private papers of Therese Malfati (1792-1851) (whom Beehoven was romantically involved with).

In fact, some scholars believe Beethoven even proposed marriage to her (who married an aristocratic landowner). When the piece was eventually published, the editor misreads Beethoven's writing and dedication and instead of the  name Therese, titles the piece Fur Elise (For Elise).


Further reading
ForElise Website (an entire website dedicated to Für Elise no less!)

1 comment:

  1. fascinating, i will share this with my students several of whom play fur Therese !