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 favorites 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 "Für Elise."