Beethoven to Elisa who performs. The mystery of the play "Für Elise": who did Beethoven really dedicated it to? "Clap your hands, friends, the comedy is over!"

"Fur Elise" is a famous piano piece by Ludwig van Beethoven. Bagatelle Ludwig van Beethoven In 1865, the composer's biographer, musician Ludwig Nohl (), discovered the manuscript of "Fur Elise". In 1923, Beethoven scholar Max Unger suggested that Nohl had misinterpreted the composer's illegible handwriting, and Für Elise was actually dedicated to the pianist and Beethoven student Therese Malfatti von Rohrenbach zu Dezza (), who performed his works masterfully. This assumption was based on the fact that Beethoven courted her and was even going to marry her, but was refused. 1865 Ludwig Nohl 1923 Max Unger Therese Malfatti von Rohrenbach zu Dezza According to another version put forward in 2009 by Berlin musicologist and researcher of Beethoven's work Martin Kopitz , author of the publication “Beethoven through the eyes of his contemporaries,” the play “Für Elise” was dedicated to the German soprano singer Elisabeth Röckel, younger sister the composer's friend, tenor Joseph Röckel. In a friendly circle, the girl was called Eliza, and when in 1810 she moved from Vienna to Bamberg, Beethoven gave her a farewell gift. However, how the play came to Teresa Malfatti during Elisabeth Röckel’s lifetime remains unclear. 2009 by Martin Kopitz Elisabeth Röckel by Joseph Röckel 1810 Vienna Bamberg

Ludwig Van Beethoven was in love, oh so in love, and he fell in love with his students, which did not lead to good things. Because the students were all from rich and noble families, and their parents refused not only a hand, but also a house. The first time I already told you how it appeared Moonlight Sonata- from love, only from the love of a deaf poor musician for a secular beauty. This time “Fur Elise” - a bagatelle, that is, a short piano work - was dedicated not to Eliza at all, but to Therese (Therese Malfatti), whose father was noble and rich, and among other things, was also the doctor of the already ill Beethoven. You won't get rich from bagatelle. The love was mutual, according to historians and biographers of Beethoven, but Teresa was given in marriage to Baron Von Drosdick. She was 17 years old and he was 39. They think correctly, mutual love one way or another it was, you can’t just write such a simple melody. And who now remembers this baron and this Teresa, but “Fur Elise” is remembered and will be remembered...

One of the most famous musical works in history by the great, unsurpassed Beethoven, called “Moonlight Sonata,” was dedicated to the young Juliet Guicciardi. The girl won the heart of the young composer and then cruelly broke him. But it is to Juliet that we owe the fact that we can listen to the music of the best sonata so deeply penetrating into the soul genius composer. Juliet, daughter of the rich and noble Count Guicciardi, arrived in Vienna in 1800. She was not even seventeen then, but the young girl’s love of life and charm captivated the thirty-year-old composer, and he immediately admitted to his friends that he had fallen in love ardently and passionately. He was sure that the same tender feelings arose in the heart of the mocking coquette. In a letter to his friend, Beethoven emphasized: “This wonderful girl is so loved by me and loves me that I observe an amazing change in myself precisely because of her.” Six months later, at the peak of his feelings, Beethoven began creating a new sonata, which after his death would be called “Moonlight”. It is dedicated to Countess Guicciardi and was started in the state great love, delight and hope. The composer finished finishing his masterpiece in anger, rage and extreme resentment. But Beethoven gathered his strength and decided to begin. new life and in almost absolute deafness created great masterpieces

The history of the Moonlight Sonata is bright and interesting. Beethoven called it a Sonata in the spirit of fantasy. And the name Lunnaya, after the composer’s death, was given to it by one of Beethoven’s friends, the poet Ludwig Relstab. He saw the picture moonlit night, the quiet surface of the lake and a boat serenely floating along it. Just at the time when Beethoven felt the approach of deafness, he felt that for the first time in his life real love. He began to think of his charming student, young Juliet Guicciardi, as his future wife. Juliet encouraged the composer, but was too frivolous and superficial to understand the brilliant teacher. She - raised in an aristocratic family - looked down on her teacher. She struck Beethoven Double punch: she turned away from him and married Robert Gallenberg, a mediocre composer of music, but a count. The Moonlight Sonata was created during this difficult time in the composer’s life. Under its real name, Beethoven wrote: Dedicated to Countess Giulietta Guicciardi. The composer conveys the whole storm of human emotions that was in his soul at that time in “Moonlight Sonata”. This is grief, doubt, jealousy, doom, passion, hope, longing, tenderness and, of course, love.

I hear the melody of the “Moonlight Sonata”, from the sounds of which the starry world froze. Beethoven once dedicated this magical sonata to his beloved. It is impossible to explain love in words; the young and in love Beethoven spoke about love without words with the melody of the “Moonlight Sonata” to his anxious beloved. On sad days, on days of separation and bad weather, let everyone remember sacredly - music is a smile and happiness, music is love! A star flickers lonely in the window, a ray of moonlight falls on a row of keys. At night, on the piano, the maestro plays a sonata, which he called lunar. Beethoven can’t sleep at night, he can’t sleep, an unearthly motif floats above the earth, and the piano cries... In the moonlight, the eyelashes of his beloved tremble from that music. In sad days of failures and sorrows, let everyone remember sacredly - music is not only sound, music is love!

1. to reveal in the work the features of content and form, but also the original, uniquely individual implementation (perception of the work, style and genre, comparisons with information about the era, about the composer, etc. - the sphere of the socio-historical and artistic-psychological side of creativity. ) 2. Music. language, its structure. Elements of music. language, their expression. and formative properties. 3. Concept and characteristics of music. style. 4. Subject. material and principles of its development. 5. Music. form and its parts 6. Intonation development 7. attitude towards the work, my thoughts.

This work by Beethoven has been one of the most popular for many years. famous masterpieces world music. It is included in the compulsory program of works in music schools oh the whole world. Written in the key of A minor.

Story

In 1865, the composer's biographer, musician Ludwig Nohl (1831-1885), discovered the manuscript of "Fur Elise" from Babette Bredl in Munich. The manuscript consisted of an album sheet with a dedication and notes. On the album sheet was written in Beethoven's hand: In memory of Elise from L. v. Beethoven, April 27. The year was not indicated, but on the notes accompanying the dedication there were also sketches for “Egmont” (opus 84), which appeared in 1810, which made it possible to date the manuscript to 1810.

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Notes

Literature

• Ludwig Nohl (Ludwig Nohl), Neue Briefe Beethovens, Stuttgart 1867
• Klaus Martin Kopitz (Klaus Martin Kopitz), Beethoven, Elisabeth Röckel und das Albumblatt „Für Elise“, Köln 2010, ISBN 978-3-936655-87-2
• Klaus Martin Kopitz, Beethovens "Elise" Elisabeth Röckel. Neue Aspekte zur Entstehung und Überlieferung des Klavierstücks WoO 59, V: Die Tonkunst, Year 9, Number 1 (January 2015), pp. 48–57

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Excerpt characterizing Fur Elise

“Eh bien, mon cher, votre petite princesse est tres bien, tres bien,” said the Viscount, getting into the carriage with Hippolyte. – Mais très bien. - He kissed the tips of his fingers. - Et tout a fait francaise. [Well, my dear, your little princess is very sweet! Very sweet and perfect Frenchwoman.]
Hippolytus snorted and laughed.
“Et savez vous que vous etes terrible avec votre petit air innocent,” continued the Viscount. – Je plains le pauvre Mariei, ce petit officier, qui se donne des airs de prince regnant.. [Do you know horrible man, despite your innocent appearance. I feel sorry for the poor husband, this officer, who pretends to be a sovereign person.]
Ippolit snorted again and said through his laughter:
– Et vous disiez, que les dames russes ne valaient pas les dames francaises. Il faut savoir s"y prendre. [And you said that Russian ladies are worse than French ones. You have to be able to take it on.]
Pierre, having arrived ahead, like a homely man, went into Prince Andrei's office and immediately, out of habit, lay down on the sofa, took the first book he came across from the shelf (it was Caesar's Notes) and began, leaning on his elbow, to read it from the middle.
-What did you do with m lle Scherer? “She’s going to be completely ill now,” said Prince Andrei, entering the office and rubbing his small, white hands.
Pierre turned his whole body so that the sofa creaked, turned his animated face to Prince Andrei, smiled and waved his hand.
- No, this abbot is very interesting, but he just doesn’t understand things that way... In my opinion, eternal peace is possible, but I don’t know how to say it... But not by political balance...

“Fur Elise” is a famous piano bagatelle piece by Ludwig van Beethoven. This work has been one of the most famous masterpieces of world music for many years. It is included in the compulsory program of works in music schools around the world. In 1865, the composer's biographer, musician Ludwig Nohl, discovered the manuscript of "Für Elise" with Babette Bredl in Munich. The manuscript consisted of an album page with a dedication and notes. On the album sheet it was written in Beethoven’s hand: “To Elise in long memory from L. v. Beethoven, April 27." According to one version, the work was dedicated to the pianist and student of Beethoven, Teresa Malfatti von Rohrenbach zu Dezza, who masterfully performed his works, and was actually called “Für Teresa.” Beethoven courted her and even planned to marry her, but was refused. According to another version, the play “Fur Elise” was dedicated to the German soprano singer Elisabeth Röckel, the younger sister of the composer’s friend, tenor Joseph Röckel. In a friendly circle, the girl was called Eliza, and when in 1810 she moved from Vienna to Bamberg, Beethoven gave her a farewell gift.

L. Beethoven “Fur Elise” e"

Sometimes, we don’t even think about the fact that those widely known and beloved by us musical works They sometimes have a complicated history and their appearance is shrouded in many secrets and mysteries.This may be related to the history of the writing, the sudden discovery of a long-lost manuscript, or sometimes the title. One of these works is familiar to literally every one of you - this is a piano piece Ludwig van Beethoven

By the way, this is not the only similar case in the composer's work. " Moonlight Sonata "is not lunar at all, and Beethoven himself was probably very surprised to learn that the work had such a name. Why was I surprised, knowing his explosive character! The maestro himself decided to write “Sonata in the Spirit of Fantasy” and dedicate it to his next beloved, Juliet Guicciardi. The name “Lunar” was given to it by his friend Ludwig Relstab.

Read the history of Beethoven's miniature "" and the contents of the work on our page.

The history of the creation of “Für Eliza”

It is noteworthy that the piano miniature “Fur Elise” can rightfully be called Beethoven’s most famous work. The composer originally titled it Bagatelle No. 25 in A minor; the title "Für Elise" itself was only a subtitle. What is the reason for such popularity? First of all, this is due to the widespread use of the piece when teaching piano. It is included in the compulsory program in music schools. In addition, it is beautiful, sonorous and at the same time not complex 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 himself. Beethoven researcher of his work. It is generally accepted that the work was created in 1810. It was during this period of time that another of his masterpieces was created - Overture "Egmont", the sketches of which were written on the same sheet of paper as the bagatelle.

But let’s return to the most important mystery of the work “Für Eliza.” It is known that it was discovered by musicologist Ludwig Nohl, who was studying the biography of the maestro. A mysterious inscription could be seen on the piece of paper - a dedication to a certain Eliza 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 that same distant lover or another new passion of the amorous great symphonist?

Since its discovery, many researchers have worked tirelessly on the work. So, in 2009, Luca Chiantore, who worked on this work for eight years, stated that this version has nothing to do with the composer. Undoubtedly, the theme and the notes themselves belong to the maestro’s pen, there is no doubt about it. Luca Chiantore stated that that same piece of paper with the mysterious dedication never existed. A little earlier, in 1923, another researcher, Max Unger, put forward a version that the work turned out to be addressed to the maestro’s ward, Teresa Malfatti von Rohrenbach zu Dezza, with whom he was in love. Luwig Nohl mistakenly interpreted the writing on the manuscript without understanding the handwriting. This was confirmed by the fact that it was she who had these notes for a long time.

Another musicologist, Martin Kopitz, stated that “Fur Elise” was addressed to the vocalist Elisabeth, who was the sister of his close friend. An interesting version also exists, like all the others.

Well? Still confused about the many Elizabeths? All these versions were refuted by Canadian researcher Rita Steblin, who, after studying the available material, came to the conclusion that we're talking about about the student of that same Teresa Malfatt - Elisa Barensfeld. She had amazing vocal abilities and began giving concerts early, and Beethoven, to please Teresa, dedicated a piece to this student.

So far, no one can definitely say which of the numerous researchers of Beethoven’s life and work is 100 percent right, but given time all musicologists are inclined to Rita Steblin's version. If this is indeed the case, then all the numerous students of all children's music schools, whose compulsory programs include “Fur Elise,” received another incentive to study this work, because the play was written and dedicated to their peer.

“Für Eliza” - notes:

Download sheet music

Download sheet music

An outstanding virtuoso who shocked all his contemporaries with the power of improvisation, Beethoven was an excellent piano player. It is noteworthy that if symphonic creativity for the composer was the sphere of mainly monumental, majestic ideas, then in his piano works Beethoven tried to reflect inner life a person, in a special way penetrating into the world of his feelings and experiences, albeit the most secret ones. It was in these works that the maestro almost openly expressed what he felt. Piano music The composer can be called his diary, in which he diligently recorded life observations and, of course, experiences.

Speaking about the content of the play “,” it is worth noting that during the period of its creation, the lyrics of feelings increasingly penetrate into Beethoven’s works. It is these emotional experiences that can be heard in such a small but significant composition.

Let's try to parse it so that it is clear what exactly I wanted to say Beethoven . Here, first of all, it is worth noting that the form of the play is rondo (from Italian circle). In this case, the main theme (refrain) alternates with episodes, which are generally always of a slightly different nature. Now think about what word would fully characterize the main theme? Listen, maybe Love? Perhaps this is precisely how the composer imagined himself confessing his feelings to his distant lover in such a lyrical, tender way. What about the second topic, episode? It already has a slightly different character and it would be more appropriate to compare it with the hope for reciprocity or the joy of anticipation of an imminent meeting with your beloved. Do you agree? The main theme returns again, and with it the composer’s feelings.

The third theme bursts in with completely new intonations and mood. This is no longer the old lyrics, but torment, mental anguish of the composer and inevitable separation. The play ends with a return main topic– love, but it’s just perceived a little differently.

Surprisingly, if you become immersed in this work, you can immerse yourself in the secret pages of Beethoven’s life, “hear” his feelings that he had for his beloved and feel the composer’s personal experiences about his unrequited love.

Popular arrangements and performances of “Fur Elise”

Of course it is most popular work constantly attracted performers different countries and eras. Preserved a large number of interesting performances and original arrangements.

For example, famous group from Holland Shocking Blue used Beethoven's composition in her single "Broken heart", which was included in the 1972 album.

An interesting heavy metal treatment was performed by the German band Accept, who presented it in 1985. A little later, performers from Norway, known as Dimmu Borgir, presented their cover version of this composition, performed in the same style.

Many music lovers loved the blues version of “Fur Elise,” recorded by Wolf Hoffmann in 1997.

Listen to modern arrangements:

Accept Fur Elise (Metal Heart) (listen)

Shocking Blue - Broken Heart (listen)

Wolf Hoffmann (listen)

Among the classical versions, the performance of the piece by the American pianist of Ukrainian origin Valentina Lisitsa in London in 2012 together with the Philharmonic Orchestra became very popular among music lovers. Also, together with the orchestra, the bagatelle was performed by Georgy Cherkin in 2010, and this version also received wide recognition from a large audience. One cannot ignore the performance of “Fur Elise” by Alexander Malkus.

Video: listen to “Fur Elise”

Just pay attention, the same piece, 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 can boast of such a work, which is known literally in every corner of the planet. This short piano piece can safely be called business card Beethoven , which shows us a completely different composer, not a reformer, but a more sensitive romantic. Agree, 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 what depth of feelings and personal drama of the composer is hidden behind each note of the bagatelle.

Ludwig van Beethoven showed a talent for music from childhood; his first teachers were Father Johann, who served as a tenor in the court chapel, and composer Christian Gottlob Nefe. His grandfather, who held the position of bandmaster, also played a key role in the development of Ludwig’s talent. It was he who first noticed his grandson’s craving for music and insisted on the need to give the boy an education.

At the age of 21, Ludwig went to Vienna to take lessons from the famous Austrian composer Joseph Haydn, who spoke favorably of his student. Beethoven quickly mastered the skill of playing the piano and willingly improvised. Intuitively, he finds new ways, playing techniques, combinations that will determine the development of music in the 18th century.

By the age of 30, Ludwig's hearing began to deteriorate sharply. For a musician, such a diagnosis was worse than death, because the opportunity to make music was at risk. He tried as best he could to hide his illness from those around him, but gradually withdrew into himself and became unsociable. Despite the fact that Beethoven became completely deaf over the years, he still continued to write music, many of his most famous works created at the end of life.

Researchers who work with the archives of Ludwig Beethoven note that the composer had completely illegible handwriting; eyewitnesses noted that he also had difficulties with pronunciation. All this gave reason to believe that perhaps great composer suffered from dyslexia (poor mastery of writing and reading skills with general learning ability). It was because of the unclear handwriting that the work known today as the play "Fur Elise" was published under that title.

It is worth noting that the bagatelle play was published 40 years after the composer’s death; it was discovered by musician Ludwig Nohl. Interestingly, the manuscript was accidentally found in 1865, published in 1867, but soon lost without a trace. To date, only a copy of Zero has survived; where the original is located is unknown. Therefore, the information we have today is how Zero was able to decipher Beethoven's recordings. The original was almost certainly quite difficult to read, so Nohl paid special attention to getting the notes right. It is unlikely that it was fundamentally important for him to preserve the correct name of the addressee.

Considering that the dedication of the play “Für Eliza”, long years it was believed that its addressee was Elizaveta Alekseevna, wife Russian Emperor Alexandra I.

However, researcher Max Unger disagreed with this statement. In his opinion, it is logical to assume that the addressee could have been Teresa Malfatti, Beethoven’s student and close friend. It is known that the great composer was in love with Teresa and even proposed marriage to her in 1810 (the manuscript of the play supposedly dated from this year). However, Teresa refused.

There is a third version, according to which the play could have been written for the singer Elisabeth Röckel and given to her as a farewell gift before her departure from Vienna. However, it is known for certain that the manuscript was in the possession of Teresa Malfatti, and if the addressee was Röckel, it is not possible to explain this circumstance.