If Beethoven was born in Palestine? This middle-eastern ‘Für Elise’ is too infectious for words

28 August 2019, 16:46 | Updated: 28 February 2023, 17:02

These guys played ‘Für Elise’ on traditional Arabic instruments, and just made the world a much better place.

A video has resurfaced of a fabulous Middle East-infused rendition of Beethoven’s Bagatelle No. 25 in A minor (more commonly known as ‘Für Elise’).

Originally posted back in 2014, the video has nearly four million views and 66,000 likes on Facebook.

The Palestinian music group, consisting of Yousef Sakhnini, Shehady Nasser, Firas Zreik, Majd Nasra and Elie Cruise Khayat, can be seen playing Beethoven’s most famous ditty on an oud, qanoun, durbakka and daff – with the main melody on the piano.

One could perhaps call it… Beethoven’s Baghdadtelle in A minor.