Description
This fantasia is markedly improvisatory, moving freely between contrasting episodes without settling into a single clear tonal center. Dramatic and quiet passages alternate throughout, anticipating the free formal thinking found in Beethoven's later "quasi una fantasia" sonatas. At about nine and a half minutes with frequent shifts of mood, it demands considerable expressive range from advanced players.
Piano works with a free, improvisatory character, ranging from Bach to Chopin and Beethoven, each shaped by imaginative, fantasy-like ideas.
About the Composer
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Born in Bonn and active in Vienna, Ludwig van Beethoven is among the towering figures in music history, bridging the Classical and Romantic eras. Despite losing his hearing in later life, he continued composing, pursuing innovative forms and intense emotional expression in his symphonies and piano sonatas. His beloved piano piece "Fur Elise" and his 32 piano sonatas remain widely performed. This site features 96 of his works, including piano concertos and piano trios.
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