Für Elise (For Elise) is the subtitle of one of Beethoven’s most popular compositions. The official title is Bagatelle No. 25 in A minor.
Played with a romantic melody in the right hand and supported by arpeggios in the left hand, Für Elise is one of Beethoven’s most recognizable pieces. However, the score was not published until 1867, 40 years after Beethoven’s death.
Pianist and musicologist Luca Chiantore argues that Beethoven might not have been the person who shaped the piece as we know it today. Chiantore states that the original signed manuscript may even have never existed, even though musicologist Barry believes that one of the two surviving outlines closely resembles the published version of Fur Elise.
Fur Elise is featured as soundtrack in numerous movies and TV series, like The Sopranos and Oliver Twist.

best song ever and I am 11
I’m 12 years old and I love all of Beethoven’s music but Fur Elise is my fav. I want to learn to play it but I don’t have a piano or keybord to play it on.
Beethoven is amazing. Im still a tween, and dont play piano, but I do play the violin. This kind of music just makes me happy, you know? “fur ELise” is my second faviorte classical piece ever, and wish I could learn how to play it.
Aly-
I learned this song when I was 12 and now im 17.I agree with you, it is such a fun song to play. How old were you when you learned how to play it?
Kristy-
I was 13.
I love this Song! When I was littler my mom owned a music box shaped like a grand piano that played this song. I fell in love with it, and starte dplaying piano so that one day I would learn “Fur Elise”. That day has come and it is my absoulte faviorte song to play. It’s so much fun! Beethoven was amazing!
I am not old or wise yet i fully enjoy the smooth melody and I appreciate the full musical value of this piece.
Don’t knock us “old and wise folks” I loved this when I was young & ?
i am only 12 years old and i can play fur elise. i have been able to play it since i was 9. i love it and it annoys my family when i keep playing it over and over again. i have just learnt hoe to play the entertainer so another peice to my repetidtiou.
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At least use the right form of “your” if you’re going to sink as low as to insult small children online…
You Know I play better than you …!
Mr. Jorgos, you played this piece very lots of BETTER than me! i played it too fast and sometimes i lost some sounds. Why,i can played ALL of the Hungarian Rhapsodies perfectly but not for this piece? Maybe Fur Elise is not the best for me. I more like it or enjoy it when another person played this song.
EXCELLENT!!! THIS IS A MASTER PIECE!!! even though I love rock song and hip hop, this is still a music in my heart, and music. and even though Beethoven had died his music still bring joy and happiness to the world.
a wonderful and calm and steady piece. well done
That’s the best music in the world. who will not like this? http://1stpiano.com/beethoven-fur-elise/ is a wonder world filled with music. I like other music too, but I have to say this is a master piece. Well done.
Ars longa vita brevis: art is forever and life is short. Years after beethoven died we still listen to his art.
That’s a wonderful, beautiful piece of music. But just play a little more slower, calmer and steadier.
Plz do not tell a Musician how to interpret a musical piece just sit back and enjoy their rendition
Free sheet music? go to http://www.free-scores.com. I got this music sheet there.
Excuse, me, Jerry. Go enjoy new Rock Punk! yeah! avenged Sevenvold! Linkin Park!
But dont go to this website again.
It’s a peace world in http://www.1stpiano.com. but suddenly, you and your friends going to interrupting and post bad comments. im sure everybody have their own opinion, but dont attack this again.
This song makes me feel sick in the pit of my stomach.Next time I hear something as bad as this I swear I’m going to do bodily harm to myself. This is one of the many, many, terrible peices I’ve heard by Beethoven today.
You have no couth or culture. Go buy a KIZZ album (LOL)
I love this piece, it just stinks that I can’t find it for free to download.
This one and the Mozart fantasy are being played too fast. They looses some of thier melodic character when rushed. The pieces themselves are just heavenly, however.
awesome melody!!
It’s very popular, but almost all my friends didn’t know the full part of Fur Elise, either the bioghraphy of Ludwig Van Beethoven’s live or the “Real” part of music?
Beethoven was very amazing. he started to loss his hearing in 1811, and i wonder when he compose this songs?
whellllllll what do you pickle no i like pickles but you like the song and i do to my name is pickls
Esta musica es infinitamente hermosa.
This is one of the most beautiful songs known to man. I love all classical music. I am a fifteen year old girl from Amarica and I am just pround to say, when my teachers play the classical music I play along with the piano while everyone else moans that it’s not rap or something else. I love Moonlight Sontana the most. I have learned to play both on the piano very well. I don’t think I could live without the musical styling of Beehtoven. Or any other classical music artist.
Those not willing to at least try new things are going to live VERY boring lives. March to your own drummer and leave those with closed minds at the back of the parade to clean-up after the horses!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am proud of you.
Yes my real name is beethoven. I was named after him. and as you said many people our age do not like classical instead they listen to rap. Why I have no idea. But I have learned how to play this song and moonlight sonata onpiano although I enjoy this one better.
HEY I KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT MOZART! By the way, Shelley is under me! HA HA HA HA
I ahve been playing for ages
YOU ARE VERYYYYYYYYYYYYY GENUS IN BEETHOARSHIA VES STORYYYY
AND YOU LEARN ME VERYY SUBGECT
THAN YOU
Tom: you are misspelling every word. Can you check your spelling before you post something?
its nice !!!!!!!!!!!!!
The piece is in A minor and is set in 3/8 time. It begins with an A minor theme marked ‘Poco moto’ (with movement), with the left hand playing arpeggios alternating between A minor and E major. It then moves into a brief section based around C major and G major, before returning to the original theme. It then enters a lighter section in the subdominant key, F major. It consists of a similar texture to the A section,where the right hand plays a melody over left hand arpeggios. It then enters a 32nd note C major figure before returning to the A section. The piece then moves to an agitated theme in D minor with an A pedal point, as the right hand plays diminished chords. This section then concludes with an ascending A minor arpeggio before beginning a chromatic descent over two octaves, and then returning to the A section. The piece ends in its starting key of A minor with an authentic cadence. Despite being called a bagatelle, the piece is in rondo form. The structure is A – B – A – C -A. The first theme is not technically difficult and is often taught alone as it provides a good basic exercise for piano pedalling technique. However, much greater technique is required for the B section as well as the rapid rising A minor figure in the C section.
The version of ‘Fur Elise’ we hear today is in fact an earlier version that was transcribed by Ludwig Nohl. There is in fact a later version, with drastic changes to accompaniment – which was transcribed from a later manuscript by Barry Cooper. The most notable difference is in the first theme, the left-hand arpeggio’s are delayed by a 16th note beat. There are a few extra bars in the transitional section into the B section; and finally – the rising A minor arpeggio figure is moved later into the piece. The tempo marking ‘Poco Moto’ is believed to have been on the manuscript that Ludwig Nohl transcribed (now lost). The later version includes the marking ‘Molto Grazioso’. It’s believed that Beethoven intended on adding the piece to a cycle of Bagatelles.[citation needed]
The letters that spell Elise can be decoded as the first three notes of the piece. Because an E♭ is called an Es in German and is pronounced as “S”, that makes E-(L)-(I)-S-E: E-(L)-(I)-E♭-E, which by enharmonic equivalents sounds the same as E-(L)-(I)-D♯-E. Furthermore, since “Dis” is the pronunciation of D♯, if the first several notes of the composition are sung with note names, it becomes E-Dis-E-Dis-E (…), creating a word that, as a mondegreen, sounds significantly similar to the name “Elise” (the “L” sound and “D” sound are alveolar consonants). The same notion however is also valid for the name “Therese”.
bad boood albate man ehsas nadaram
IT’S A GREAT DREAM ارشیا
this song is so light and really helps me to realax i love it
Arshia khan salam.
man Alireza hastam va mikham az shoma age momkene noskheye piano FUR ELISE ro be e-mailam befrestid.
be har hal az shoma sepasgozaram.
ar_homayoon@yahoo.com
i am going to cry
this song is so beautiful
Beethoven is my hero!!!!! (other than Mozart). Beethoven puts me at ease, and calms me I love to listen to his music. Anyone who cant listen to Beethoven and appreacite it is crazy, it’s amazing how a deaf man could compose such master pieces
Played with a romantic melody in the right hand and supported by arpeggios in the left hand, Für Elise is one of Beethoven’s most recognizable pieces. However, the score was not published until 1867, 40 years after Beethoven’s death.
Pianist and musicologist Luca Chiantore argues that Beethoven might not have been the person who shaped the piece as we know it today. Chiantore states that the original signed manuscript may even have never existed, even though musicologist Barry believes that one of the two surviving outlines closely resembles the published version of Fur Elise
this website is gooooooooooooooooooood veryyyyyyyyyyyyyy god
i lovo this website
tankio for song
yes its beutiful (rain)
I HATE THIS PIECE ! it’s stupid ; too much notes to read ;
aw you serious ? this this is one of the best music out !
yes I agrey crystal iys beutiful
What the heck are you people say? @_@ Für Elise was composed my BEETHOVEN o____O END OF DISCUSSION!!! I have been playing the piano for nearly ten years now ^_^ And I am very proud and honoured to say that it was this very song (Für Elise) that inspired me to play this long
DD
Es preciosa , esta llena de sentimiento y cada ves que la escucho me alegro.
hermoso ** **
terrific.the most divine music ever heard
this song is so beautiful!
i am going to cry ;>
Estas melodías nunca deben ser olvidadas por el mundo, ya que son las bases de lo que hoy conocemos como géneros musicales.
No se olviden del pasado, ya que en el pasado se hallan respuestas que mejorarán nuestras vidas.
Att: El Inquisidor Hereje
This song is AWESOME!!! Im learning this song to play at my recital and im so scared!! Ive only had 2 yrs of piano lessons and im playing this……im Nervous!!! THis piece was written by Beethoven NOT MOZART!!! I Do love both musicians though!! Classical piano music is the BEST!!! ARRIVA LA MUSICA CLASSICA!!
LA MARAVILLA DE LA VIDA ES LA MUSICA….CUAL SEA NUESTRA ADMIRACIÓN A TDOS LOS MUSICOS CLASICOS….MIS PRFERENCIAS SN CHOPIN,BEETHOVEN ,SHUBERT Y LIZT…
wow i love all of beethovens music its so amazing and beutifule
i wan to kow if it a girl or a boy coz there is a man on the pic but i thought it we
as a boy
that is motzarts not beethoven
Sorry but you are really wrong its BEETHOVEN
wow dude this song is s00 chill its like every time i listen to i i get toasted
this is such a classic
I love this song its such a classic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And I’ve read that Elise was a little girl, the daughter of a friend.
So many stories.
Jorgos, this is a lovely site. Thank you.
hola quisiera poder tener esta musica para mi bebe es que le agrada mucho
i’ve read that it was a piece about a woman he pursued when he was in his 40′s.
I listen to this, everyday, im on my first trimester, i make it as a prenatal stimulation.
I can play this whole song on the piano.I’m on level 9.(I’m only 10 years old.)
WOW THATS SO AWESOME!! I Wished i had learned to play the piano at that age but i didnt until now which its kinda hard to learn although im only 17
out of Beethoven’s music Fur Elise is my fadorite it remineds me of my childhood………………….
adoro esta mùsica…… me trae recuerdos tan bonitos es sublime e inmortal
es hermosa esta musica, es lo maximo , un aporte grandioso a lo es la cultura lirica
this is so awsome .
what a nice and romantic ,and calming song .
i use it to study and do homework.In class my teacher puts it on .It makes me concentrate really well !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Amazing : )
I love mary !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! @@@@@@
This is a really nice song ,I love it so much.
It reminds me of God`s presence in my life .
I love it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It is For Elise, his wife who had died at a young age.
It is For Elise, his wife who had died.At least, I believe I was taught this at a young age while taken instruction.
hummm…. i Always wonder why this wonderful song is called “fur Elise”. Beacause i maid research and apperently noyone knows who Elise was… People say that most likely that the song is supostue be “fur Therese”, beacause in 1810 Ludwing proposed to Therese a student of his and she declined him.. Its a mystery !!
This song has always been amazing to me. This was actually the reason i started playing piano. The song is so beautiful and reminds me of my good times.
I can play this entire song! I love it! Classical music has to be my favorite type of piano music.
this song is named after my sister
felicitaciones por la musica de fondo de beethoven para elisa el gran amor de genio austro aleman
I’m not claiming to know a lot about music, I’ve heard many versions of it and just love the song but isn’t this version played a bit too fast?
palabras no me faltan para decir lo maravilloso q es sobre todo como lo espresa en sus tocadas magnificas q me lleva a sentir sensaciones extrañas como nostalgia melancolia no tengo mas palabras para decir
me encanta el tema para elisa
amo la para elisa
me fascina esta sonata es fantanstico escuchar a este grande me inspira mucho
esta cancion me inspira,, me fascina creo que fue uno de los pianistas mas grandes del mundo
I love this man (Beethoven) and I love all his music
HAHAHA! i’m sorry, at that noisy, cheerful part, i just have to laugh. its a cheery and, for some reason, funny song. opposite of the moonlight sonata, which i love. i’m not all that into this type of music, but i love moonlight.
Es extraordinaria la música de Bethoven. En especial esta sonata.Es inigualable
i hate him
He his one of the greatest pianist I have ever known.For your information,Beethoven is a left handed and became deaf when he was 4 years old.
WALKING IN A GREEN FIELD ON THE AFTERNOON….
i heard that i was reall called fur thereese and he liked a girl and for her her birthday he wrote her this song i think the song is beatiful
ES MARAVILLOSO ESCUCHARLA, TE RELAJA Y TRABAJAS MEJOR
Again, this execution is absolutely remarkable. It is as if the girl Elise materialises before you.
My favourite piece of all time
Me encanta esta melodía , creo que la música clásica es la mejor del mundo, es la verdadera música
I loved this song , is beautiful
I’m getting married next year and was wondering about having this song for my processional. Please give me your opinions
I can play this, Beethoven wrote this from his own love story. A woman named Theirese who, I think, rejected him so that is why it sounds like…
this song is so chillll…
beethoven is the ultimate calmer
HOLA ESTABA BUSCANDO PAGINAS WEB GRATIS DE MUSICAS CLASICA Y ENCONTRE ESTA ME PARECE MUY BUEN .SALU2
A música de Beethoven, é maravilhosa, me faz relaxar e esquecer todos os problemas…
Its hard to imagine Beethoven composing deaf let alone battling for a kid at the same time. He wanted to be with his nephue (if its spelled wrong sorry) I love this sone it pust me at ease.
Fur Elise has a story too. Although Beethoven is a talented man, he did not lead a happy life. He was unable to be with the women he loved, for he had a bad temper.Beethoven once loved a girl, but was unable to be with her. He composed a song meant for her. And when he died, someoone found the piece of music. Because of his messy handwriting, people did not completely know the title of this lovely song. They called it ‘Fur’ means for, and ‘Elise’ known to be read as in Beethoven`s messy writing.
hola,buenas noches ,queria mensionar que es un muy hermoso tema para ecuchar durante las vacaciones en la siesta,saludos a todos y hasta pronto
I LOVE THIS SONG!!!
Thank you. When it gets really hectic, I treat myself to this and Moonlight Sonata and once again all is well with the world. I really appreciate you making it available and you execute so exquisitely.
This song is beautiful. I love listening to in. I learned the smaller version (ment for kids to learn) on the piano. I have not touched a piano in 6 years, but my fingers still do the movements on my desk.
my favorite song
this song is so light and really helps me to realax i love it.
RELAXXX!!!
Es muy bonita la musica clasica es como si te envolviera………..**********
I’ve heard this song a thousand times and havent’t really listened until now. I love this-it’s a classic! beethoven was a genius!
me encanta la musica dde beethoven
Jorgos u are 1 of the best piano players ive ever heard! Ive been taking formal classes for 0.5 years, but my teacher consiters me as a 2 year player! Do you have any good tips?
This song is my 2nd favorite of Beethoven’s songs! Is’t amazing how a man who becomes deaf in his twentys can compose such wonderful pieces? Its amazing! I LOVE IT! When i’m stressed out, I always listen to it to help me calm down! I play it all the time!
beethoven is amazing. hes the best musician of his time because he had to deal with issues that no one else did.he didnt just have his fame cut out for him. he had to work hard, and wasnt always successful. i have a great respect for him. Beethoven he was unique and inspirational.
Beethoven is my hero!!!!! (other than Mozart). Beethoven puts me at ease, and calms me I love to listen to his music. Anyone who cant listen to Beethoven and appreacite it is crazy, it’s amazing how a deaf man could compose such master pieces
I am at ease with this song, it is quite lovely
IT’S A GREAT DREAM
DID YOU KNOW ?
Did you know that during beethovens late 20′s beethoven became deaf .during his 9th symphoney he was completely deaf he took the leg off his piano so he sould feel the vibrations coming up through the ground and into his body so he could compose his 9th symphoney using all the vibrations the piano made CLEVER !!!!!!!!!!!!sorry about some of my spelling !!
Molly-
I didn’t recall that this is also called the wedding song. That’s a very interesting tidbit of information. But no wedding that I’ve ever been to or seen has played this. I believe that it was another song that I always heard, but I can’t place my finger on it right now. But thank you for informing me. Now I know something new.
You do know that this song is almost always played at weddings. In fack, it is also called the Wedding Song. If I ever get married, this would be my first dance, and I’m only a tween.
Stephanie-
You are very right. It does seem like it would be at a party scene, or perhaps as they are dining. If I do recall correctly, “Fur Elise” was played quite often during social gatherings in that time.
This Song sounds like a behind the scences music of one of Jane Austens movies.