Fur Elise (Bagatelle in A Minor), WoO 59
Ludwig van Beethoven
Work background
Researched classical background
Fur Elise is a short piano work built around a returning refrain and contrasting episodes. The famous opening alternates two neighboring notes before settling into A minor. It was not published during Beethoven's lifetime, and the autograph used by its first editor is no longer available. The piece's familiar title has generated several competing suggestions about the person it addresses.
A listening guide
Listen for the refrain returning after passages that are more flowing or more forcefully accented.
Listening suggestions are editorial guides to the music.
Forces: Solo piano
Composition: 1810
Surviving sketches support 1810; the identity behind the later-transmitted dedication remains uncertain.
This entry describes the musical work or cycle. Composition, premiere and publication dates describe different events. Performers and recordings can be explored through the external listening search.
Also known as: For Elise; Bagatelle No. 25
Date, title and version notes
The dedicatee has not been securely identified; no love-story explanation is asserted.
Bagatelle for piano (A minor) WoO 59
Work identity, dated event and scoring or version context for this entry. | Reviewed 2026-10-19
Sources for this work
Bagatelle for piano (A minor) WoO 59
Work identity, dated event and scoring or version context for this entry. | Reviewed 2026-10-19
Browse by year
1960-2025. Each year contains 150 selections.