Fur Elise

Ludwig van Beethoven

General Info

Year: 1810 / 1867 / 2019
Duration:
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Piano
Publisher: Manuscript
Cost: Score and Parts - Unknown

Instrumentation

Full Score
E-flat Soprano Saxophone I-II
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone I-II
E-flat Baritone Saxophone I-II
Bass Saxophone (optional)

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

Ludwig van Beethoven’s Bagatelle No. 25 in A minor is rarely referred to in such terms. The well-known composition for solo piano is commonly referred to by its nickname, Für Elise (German for ‘for Elise’). A popular edition to any pianist’s program, the piece remains a mystery with the identity of “Elise” still being unknown, and the discovery of the work not occurring until forty years after Beethoven’s death.

The piece is in rondo form, ABACA, and begins with a theme alternating between the keys of A minor and E major. The B section includes much more technically demanding passages in the submediant key of F major, leading to a return of the A section. The C section brings in an agitated theme in the key of D minor, accompanied by repetitive pedal point chords as well as dramatic diminished seventh chords. The conclusion of this section ends with a chromatic descent over two octaves to lead into the last A section.

This new arrangement of Für Elise for saxophone ensemble follows the same rondo form and includes the same themes in their respective keys, but are performed in ragtime style. The syncopated melodies accompanied by the strong down beats and chordal upbeats make for giving this arrangement a “ragged” feel.

- Program Note by arranger

Bagatelle No. 25 in A minor (WoO 59, Bia 515) for solo piano, commonly known as Für Elise, is one of Ludwig van Beethoven's most popular compositions. It was not published during his lifetime, only being discovered (by Ludwig Nohl) 40 years after his death, and may be termed either a Bagatelle or an Albumblatt. The identity of "Elise" is unknown; researchers have suggested Therese Malfatti, Elisabeth Röckel, or Elise Barensfeld.

- Program Note from Wikipedia

Media

(Needed - please join the WRP if you can help.)

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

Cockrill Middle School (McKinney, Tx.) Honors Band (Gary Williams, conductor) - 14 February 2020 (2020 TMEA Conference, San Antonio)

Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music

Allegretto (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Longfield) (1812/2011)
Europa (Flex instrumentation) (with Charpentier; arr. Haan) (2009)
The Great Beethoven Bonanza (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Jones) (2015)
March of the Guards (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Glover) (1805/2019)
Ode to Joy (Flex instrumentation (arr. Brand) (1824/2000(?))
Ode to Joy (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Fisher) (1824/2018)
Ode to Joy (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Stanton) (1824/2020)
Symphony No. 5 in C Minor (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Stanton) (1804-1808/2014)
Symphony No. 6, "Pastoral" Selections (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Kanayama) (1808/2014)
Variations on a Motive of Beethoven (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Ring) (1826/2020)

All Wind Works

Adagio Cantabile (arr. Daehn) (1798/2009)
Adagio Pathétique (arr. Hautvast) (1798/2011)
Allegretto (arr. Court) (1812/1997)
Allegretto (ar. Longfield) (1812/2011)
Allegretto (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Longfield) (1812/2011)
The Allegretto from Beethoven's Symphony No. 7 (arr. Evans) (1812/2013)
Allegro con Brio (tr. Kreines) (1804-1808/)
Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, 2nd Movement (arr. Harnsberger) (1804-1808/)
Coriolan Overture (tr. Hanna) (1807/2014)
Drei zapfenstreiche (adopt. Schaefer) (1808-1810/1984)
Écossaise for Military Band (arr. Stalter) (1810/2015)
Egmont Overture (arr. Grevenbroek) (1810/2012)
Egmont Overture (tr. Hindsley) (1810/197-?)
Egmont Overture (tr. McLain) (1810/2015)
Egmont Overture (arr. Tobani) (1810/1900)
Egmont Overture (arr. Winterbottom) (1810/1924)
Eroica (arr. Ripley) (1804/1900)
Europa (Flex instrumentation) (with Charpentier; arr. Haan) (2009)
The European Anthem (arr. Karajan) (1824/1972)
Finale to "Symphony No. 5" (arr. Isaac) (1804-1808/1965)
Finale to "Symphony No. 5" (adapt. Longfield) (1804-1808/2020)
First and Second Movements from Symphony No. 5 in C minor (arr. Godfrey) (1804-1808/1921)
Five Short Pieces for Wind Ensemble (arr. Reynolds) (1975)
For Elise (arr. Long) (1810/1992)
Für Elise (arr. Hautvast) (1810/2020)
Für Elise (arr. Korson) (1810/1867/20--?)
Grand Serenade (arr. Crusell; ed. Rogers) (1800/2004)
The Great Beethoven Bonanza (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Jones) (2015)
Grosse Fuge (arr. Roxburgh) (1825/1995)
The Heavens Resound (arr. Kinyon) (1803/1990)
Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee (arr. Kirkland) (1824/1982)
Leonore Overture No. 3 (tr. Hindsley) (1806/197-?)
Marcia alla Turca (arr. Rondeau) (1809/2011)
March in B-flat. See: Marsch
March in F (arr. Dunnigan) (1809/1995)
March of the Guards (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Glover) (1805/2019)
Marsch (c. 1798/1865)
Military March (Beethoven) (adapt. Greissle) (1816/1827/1945)
Military March in D (ed. Bourgeois) (1816/2003)
Moonlight Sonata (arr. Poor) (1801/2010)
Octet (1792/1834)
Octet (arr. Byrd) (1792/1834/2021)
Ode to Joy (arr. Barrett) (1824/1965/1995)
Ode to Joy (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Brand) (1824/2000(?))
Ode to Joy (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Fisher) (1824/2018)
Ode to Joy (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Stanton) (1824/2020)
Overture to "Fidelio" (arr. Sedlak) (1814/1814)
Piano Concerto No. 1 (arr. Odom) (1795/2019)
Presto from "Symphony No. 7" (tr. Thompson) (1811/2018)
Prometheus Overture (arr. Barnes) (1801/1963)
Prometheus Overture (arr. Slocum) (1801/1987)
Quintet in E-flat Major, Op 16 (1796)
Reflections in Moonlight (arr. Smith) (1801/2007)
Rocking 4 Elise (arr. Berger) (1810/2014)
Rondino (1793/195-?)
Scherzo and Finale from the Fifth Symphony (arr. Godfrey) (1804-1808/1920)
Scherzo from "Symphony No. 9" (arr. Bocook) (1824/2004)
Septet in E-flat Major, op. 20 (arr. Crusell)
Sextet (1796)
Sextet (1796/2020)
Siegessinfonie (ed. Whitwell) (1813/2013)
Six Country Dances (tr. McAlister) (1988)
Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 21: Mvt. 1 (arr. Yu) (1800/2014?)
Symphony No. 1 Op. 21 (tr. Schmitt; ed. Marlow) (1800/1817/2007)
Symphony No. 3 (tr. Moehlmann; ed. Rogers) (1804/2020)
Symphony No. 5: Second Movement (arr. Harnsberger). See: Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, 2nd Movement
Symphony No. 5 in C minor (arr. Godfrey)
- First and Second Movements (arr. Godfrey). See: First and Second Movements from Symphony No. 5 in C minor
- Third and Fourth Movements (arr. Godfrey). See: Scherzo and Finale from the Fifth Symphony
Symphony No. 5 in C Minor (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Stanton) (1804-1808/2014)
Symphony No. 6, "Pastoral" Selections (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Kanayama) (1808/2014)
Symphony No. 7 (arr. Sedlak) (1812/1989?)
Symphony No. 9 (tr. Vives) (1822-1824/2013)
Three Equale (1812)
Turkish March (arr. Curnow) (1809/2001)
Variations on a Motive of Beethoven (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Ring) (1826/2020)
The Yorck Marche. See: March in F

Resources

Für Elise, Wikipedia Accessed 24 January 2020
Mike Korson, personal correspondence, February 2020