Composer

:

Ferruccio Busoni

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Chorale Prelude

Compose Date

:

Jul 20, 1912

Publication Date

:

1912

Average_duration

:

4:30

Ferruccio Busoni's 'Fantasia contrappuntistica (II) Edizione minore, KiV 256a' is a monumental work for solo piano that was composed in 1910. The piece is a tribute to Johann Sebastian Bach's 'The Art of Fugue' and is considered one of the most complex and challenging works in the piano repertoire. The premiere of the 'Fantasia contrappuntistica' took place in Berlin in 1910, with Busoni himself performing the piece. The work is divided into three movements, each of which explores different aspects of counterpoint and fugue. The first movement, titled 'Preludio, Fuga e Fuga figurata', begins with a slow and contemplative prelude that gradually builds in intensity before giving way to a complex fugue. The fugue is based on a theme that is introduced in the prelude and is developed through a series of intricate and virtuosic variations. The movement concludes with a fugue figurata, which is a type of fugue that incorporates elements of counterpoint and ornamentation. The second movement, titled 'Cantata', is a lyrical and expressive piece that features a series of variations on a simple melody. The variations are characterized by their intricate counterpoint and use of chromatic harmonies. The final movement, titled 'Fuga a tre soggetti', is a tour-de-force of counterpoint that features three separate fugues that are played simultaneously. The three fugues are based on different themes and are woven together in a complex and intricate web of counterpoint. Overall, the 'Fantasia contrappuntistica' is a work of immense complexity and technical difficulty that showcases Busoni's mastery of counterpoint and fugue. The piece is a testament to the enduring influence of Bach's music and remains a cornerstone of the piano repertoire to this day.

More....