Fur Elise

[Osiris]

Hello I am Osiris...and what I have is a question.

I have heard stories about Fur Elise being a song that was written by Beethoven for a woman name Elise, which whom he loved but their love failed. This was apparently the song that he wrote once there love fell apart.

Is any of this true? And is there a credible source that can back this information up?

Thanks for the help.

[Peter]

The Bagatelle in A minor(WoO59) known as 'Fur Elise' was written in 1810 for Therese Malfatti - a lady Beethoven was considering marrying at that time. Nothing came of this, as Therese's father objected to the union and she was married in 1816 to Baron Von Drosdick. In a letter of May 1810 to Therese, Beethoven refers to the Bagatelle - 'In this letter, beloved Therese, you are receiving what I promised you.' Her uncle was Dr.Giovanni Malfatti, who treated Beethoven in his final illness and for whom Beethoven composed a short cantata Un lieto brindisi (WoO103) in 1814.

It has been suggested as Beethoven's hand-writing was notoriously bad that he had actually written 'Fur Therese' - however it seems that Beethoven did write the name 'Elise' which was used then as an affectionate name for a loved one.



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'Man know thyself'