My Sources for Beethoven Research

1. www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fur_Elise

2. www.forelise.com/bagatelle

3. youtube.com

4. www.worldbook.com

5. Venezia, Mike. "Getting to Know the World's Greatest Composers: Ludvig van Beethoven."

New York City, Children's Press, 1996.

FACTS ABOUT BEETHOVEN

1. Are there any other spellings of your composer's name. How is it pronounced?

My composer is Ludwig van Beethoven. His name is pronounced as BAY-TOE-VEN.

2. When was your composer born? When did they die? What period did they compose in?

Ludwig van Beethoven was born in December 1770. He was baptized on December 17, 1770. He died on March 16, 1827. He was 56 years old when he died. He composed music in a transitional time between the Classical and the Romantic eras in Western Classical music.

3. What country were they born in? Where did they study, live, and perform?

He was born in Bonn, Germany. He studied in Vienna, Austria. He performed in Germany, Vienna, England and many other countries.

4. If you could speak with your composer, what are three questions you would ask him?

I would first ask him (1) Where did you get your inspiration to compose music?

(2) How did you compose when you became deaf? (3) Can I help compose a piece of music -- such as, Fur Elise, with you?

5. List three interesting facts about the composer.

Beethoven began to lose his hearing when he was about twenty years old and he became completely deaf, but he still kept writing and performing music.

He worked with and learned from another composed named Joseph Hayden.

He died at the exact moment of a large thunder clap.

6. What type of pieces did he compose?

Beethoven composed nine symphonies, two masses, an opera, several string quartests, 32 piano sonatas, as well as "occasional music."

7. Name three famous pieces by this composer>

Fur Elise, Ode to Joy and Symphony No. 5.

8. Choose one piece to study in depth. What is it about? Why was it written?

The piece I chose to study in detail was Fur Elise. It was was composed by Ludwig van Beethoven in 1810. Fur Elise means "For Elise." It's formal name is the Bagatelle No. 25 in A Minor for solo piano. It is not certain who Elise was. Some people suspect that the piece was meant for Therese Malfatti, who had been a piano student and friend of Beethoven's. He proposed to her, but she rejected him because she was noblewomen and Beethoven was known as a commoner. In those days, it was considered wrong to marry someone beneath you socially.

Fur Elise begins with an A minor and E major theme, with accompanying left-handed arpeggios. It is in 3/8 time. It's form is a Rondo, which means it starts with one theme, switches to another, and then comes back to the first theme.

I think this song is about Beethoven considering marriage. It seems to be both a happy and sad song to me. I think it is happy because he is saying . . . "oh, I might be able to get married to the woman I love," but then it has a sad feeling, like "what if she says no to me."

I think the song is as if he is saying to himself, "yes, no, yes, no, yes no . . . maybe so, maybe so, maybe so."

9. Listening to the piece. MY REVIEW OF FUR ELISE

If you have three minutes to spare, there is an awesome piece of classical music you should hear. It is Ludwig van Beethoven's Bagatelle No. 25 in A Minor for Solo Piano, more commonly known as Fur Elise. You have probably heard the first part of this piece before, because so many beginning musicians like to play it; but you may not have heard the whole piece or the accompaniment. It is in a Rondo form, which means it starts with one theme, moves to another, then returns to the initial theme. I love this piece of music because it sounds to me like a discussion going on inside the composer's head. It is as if he is having an argument with himself. Listen to this piano piece and you will hear what I mean.

Fur Elise begins with a familiar back and forth pattern of E and D-sharp, then a left-handed arpeggio accompaniment joins in. For about the first half of the piece, you hear this back and forth with the arpeggios, followed by a lighter section. This is the first theme of the piece, and to me, it sounds like a theme of indecision, or considering two options. I interpret this back and forth theme as Beethoven considering whether he will be luck with his marriage proposal.

About two minutes into the piece, the music becomes more emotional and agitated. It sounds to me as if more doubts are hitting Beethoven on the head. I think I hear him saying, "No I shouldn't. It won't work. I am mad." The music grows louder and heavier and it picks up in speed as he feels these things. Then finally, the music returns to the initial theme and softens back into the back and forth with arpeggios. At the end, it grows quieter, and to me, it feels sadder, like Beethoven thinks marriage may not work.

I would recommend Fur Elise to anyone. It is beautiful music, but I think everyone will be able to relate to the ideas. To me it actually makes my mind feel peaceful and quiet, even though I think there is sadness in the music. For a short three minutes of your time, you get to hear the work of a brilliant composer. So be sure to listen to this piece.