Fur elise essay

These composers usually harbour immense talent and compose memorable pieces that mirror the very soul of their musical era. One of the very recognisable names in music still to this day is Beethoven. This essay will analyse one of his most famous pieces, from the romantic era, ‘Fur Elise’.

It begins with the refrain A, a flowing melody in binary form marked Poco moto (literally "a little motion," a tempo indication that does not appear elsewhere in Beethoven's works), with an arpeggiated left hand accompaniment.

The score was not published until 1867, forty years after the composer's death in 1827. The discoverer of the piece, Ludwig Nohl, affirmed that the original autograph manuscript, now lost, had the title: "Für Elise am 27 April [1810] zur Erinnerung von L. v. Bthvn" ("For Elise on April 27 in memory by L. v. Bthvn").

Beethoven’s ‘Fur Elise’ displays many characteristics of the romantic era such as chromatic notes, changes in the dynamics as well as freedom in the structure and a very complex use of rhythm. The dynamics change constantly as the piece progresses and as the climax of the piece comes near.