Dover Publications

Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven
Format: Book
Instrumentation: Piano

Beethoven's bagatelles are short compositions written over the span of the composer's lifetime, from the early to the late periods. Ranging from easy to intermediate level, these popular pieces display a wide variety of moods and musical ideas and are favourites with students and accomplished pianists alike.

The Romantic era abounded in short compositions for piano: etudes, serenades, impromptus, and other miniatures. Beethoven's term for his refined little piano gems was Kleinigkeiten "small things" or bagatelles. Although the public expected symphonic abundance from a composer of his stature, Beethoven was reputed to take particular satisfaction in the challenge of distilling his musical ideas into a concentrated form. Reprinted from authoritative editions, this collection presents all 27 of the composer's bagatelles, including the well-loved "Fur Elise."