Monday, April 27, 2009

Fur Elise -- 199 Years


April 27, 1810 is the date of Ludwig van Beethoven's Fur Elise composition. I started playing it last night and my boys both shouted out at the same time, "That's from Snoopy!" Sometimes you just have to love cartoons. I probably wouldn't know any classical music if it weren't for Looney Tunes and Bugs Bunny. According to Wikipedia, no one really knows who "Elise" is in Beethoven's work. It's believed to be one of his mistresses, but they're not exactly sure which one. All the same, it's definitely a classic piece and it's amazing to think it's 199 years old today.


14 comments:

  1. I LOVE that song and that was played beautifully! Thanks Rena.

    Nancy

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  2. Oh, wow! I didn't know it was it's birthday!

    Fur Elise is my favorite song of all time! I adore it.

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  3. His symphonies are big and loud, with lots of brass and drums - he was deaf by the way! Isn't it amazing that someone with such a handicap could write such beautiful music.

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  4. Great music is timeless that is for sure.

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  5. That is beautiful!
    Believe it or not, I do sometimes play classical music even though I'm a rocker!

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  6. I think my daughter thinks my husband's cell phone invented it.

    Elise must have been quite a lady ... that is one of the most stirring and memorable songs I've ever heard : )

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  7. Thanks for the music! And you are SO right about classical music in cartoons. That's how I learned most of what I know. Pathetic, but true. ; )

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  8. I'm with you on the whole Looney Tunes/classical music thing.

    When I hear this composition, I think of Stephen King's IT. Bizarre, I know. It's played by one of the characters in the beginning, I think.

    Gale

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  9. Ohhhh I didn't know you played the piano.

    Hope you all feel better.

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  10. It's a beautiful composition. Happy 199th!

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  11. I love that song. And what a classic. To be that old and still that powerful of music. Shows you it was a masterpiece.

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  12. Beethoven wrote such passionate music. I played Fur Elise as one of the pieces in my 11th grade recital so it has a special place in my heart.

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  13. Beautiful. That pic on Sunday's post is priceless, too. LOL

    Hey, if you know anything about registering a domain name or setting up a website, pop over to my blog and fill us in. Thanks.

    Lynnette Labelle
    http://lynnettelabelle.blogspot.com

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