Fantaisie in F minor (Chopin)

The Fantaisie in F minor, Op. 49, by Frédéric Chopin is a single-movement work for the piano, composed in 1841, when he was 31 years old.[1] From Chopin's letters it is known that he used the name "fantasy" to show some sort of freedom from rules and give a Romantic expression.[1] Frédéric Chopin continued the tradition of a self-contained movement in his Fantaisie.[2] This Fantaisie is one of Chopin's longest pieces, and is considered one of his greatest works.[3]

Fantaisie in F minor
by Frédéric Chopin
Frederic Chopin in 1841,
pencil drawing by George Sand
Opus49
GenreRomantic
FormFantasy
Composed1841
Movements1

The autograph manuscript of the work is preserved in the National Library of Poland.

Form edit

This work belongs to the Fantasy form, a composition free in form and inspiration.[2] It begins with a solemn marching theme that eventually plunges into a passionate and virtuosic section, the transition marked poco a poco … doppio movimento, still with elements of marching, but more triumphant and positive in mood. About halfway through the piece occurs a slow and sombre chorale-like section in B major, before the previous section is restated. After a short, quiet and sweet statement followed by a final flourish the work ends in a plagal cadence in A-flat major, the relative key. This piece is 11–14 minutes long.

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Fryderyk Chopin - Information Centre - Fantasy in F minor, Op. 49 - Genres". en.chopin.nifc.pl. 2012. Archived from the original on 23 October 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
  2. ^ a b "fantasia (music) -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia". britannica.com. 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2012. composition free in form and inspiration, usually for an instrumental soloist
  3. ^ Samson, Jim (1992). "Extended forms: the ballades, scherzos and fantasies". In Samson, Jim (ed.). The Cambridge Companion to Chopin. Cambridge University Press. pp. 101–123. ISBN 9780521477529.

External links edit