Beethoven: Sämtliche Bagatellen (Complete Bagatelles)

Editor: Otto von Irmer ► A bagatelle is a short piece of music, typically for the piano, and usually of a light, mellow character. The name bagatelle literally means a “a short unpretentious instrumental composition” as a reference to the light style of a piece. The best-known bagatelles are probably those by Ludwig van Beethoven, who published three sets, Opp. 33, 119 and 126, and wrote a number of similar works that were unpublished in his lifetime including the piece that is popularly known as Für Elise.