brooksmoses: (Two)
[personal profile] brooksmoses
So, I was recently figuring out where to put the diacriticals in the title Beethoven's "Für Elise", which had come up in conversation with [livejournal.com profile] tiger_spot, and discovered that it might have been nearly named for her. The following conversation came out of this, and she was sufficiently amused that I figured I'd share:
BrooksMoses: Huh. "Für Elise" was apparently (according to one theory) originally titled "Für Therese": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fur_Elise
Tiger_Spot: Interesting.
Tiger_Spot: "intended to marry"? What happened?
BrooksMoses: I have no idea.
Tiger_Spot: The main Beethoven article is not helpful.
Tiger_Spot: Hm.... according to this site, Beethoven had an affair with Josephine von Brunsvick, Therese's younger sister.
BrooksMoses: That could do it.
Tiger_Spot: Hm... and this other website proposes an entirely different Therese, Therese Malfatti, for "Fur Therese".
BrooksMoses: Heh. Interesting.
Tiger_Spot: I get the feeling this is all rather poorly documented.
BrooksMoses: Yup. If only he'd kept a diary. "Day N: Wrote piece of music. Decided to title it for my dear betrothed Therese. Day N+5: Boffed Therese's sister. Had wonderful time. Day N+6: Therese found out about sister, hates me. Woe am I. Day N+7: Not marrying Therese after all. Telling Therese Malfatti that music is named for her, in hopes of catching her eye. Day N+23: Therese Malfatti hates me too. Am out of Thereses. Will rename music "Für Elise", since that at least has the right letters for the notes. Must find an Elise."

Date: 2006-07-13 06:56 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] surelars.livejournal.com
Heh. Good one. Loved the "Must find an Elise" part.

Date: 2006-07-13 09:33 am (UTC)
ext_12726: (Default)
From: [identity profile] heleninwales.livejournal.com
Ahem. When I was a child I thought the piece was called "Furry Lise". *g*

Date: 2006-07-13 01:31 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] xiphias.livejournal.com
Every time I see a "For Lease" sign on a building, the music plays through my head.

Date: 2006-07-13 06:56 pm (UTC)
tshuma: (read!)
From: [personal profile] tshuma
Hee! I love the diary.

Date: 2006-07-13 09:13 pm (UTC)
ext_481: origami crane (Default)
From: [identity profile] pir-anha.livejournal.com
this better not be locked. :)

Date: 2006-07-13 09:14 pm (UTC)
ext_481: origami crane (Default)
From: [identity profile] pir-anha.livejournal.com
damn, it is. now i can't link to it so my entire flist can enjoy the v. secret diary of beethoven!

Date: 2006-07-14 01:32 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] leback.livejournal.com
I feel compelled to mention this (http://www.intellectualwhores.com/beethoventheory.html).

Date: 2006-07-14 02:52 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] tiger-spot.livejournal.com
See, I told you it was funny. :)
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