Letter to Elise by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827). By Valérie Duchateau. Beethoven's Bagatelle No. 25 in A minor, commonly known as Letter to Elise, is one of the most famous piano pieces. It was first published in 1867, 40 years after the composer's death. For the record, the name "For Elise" is controversial. Indeed, there is also talk of a dedication addressed to Thérèse Malfatti ("Für Therese"), a student of Beethoven whom Beethoven allegedly unsuccessfully proposed to and whose barely legible dedication was simply misunderstood. This piece is in Rondo form (ABACA), which means that one part recurs punctually, a bit like a refrain. While part A is well anchored in the collective consciousness, parts B and C are more obscure. It is these last two that will give you the most trouble. Among the main difficulties, take care to make each note heard during the thirty-second notes as well as the deployed arpeggio of A minor preceding the chromatic descent.