"für elise" (german for "for elise") is the common name of the "bagatelle in a minor", written by ludwig van beethoven in 1810. the song is thought to be written for therese, a woman that beethoven wanted to marry in 1810, however his handwriting was misspelt undergoing transcription, allowing the piece to be known as fur elise rather the fur therese. therese did not want to marry him.