Composer

:

Ferruccio Busoni

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Fugue

Compose Date

:

1897

Publication Date

:

1897

First Performance

:

1897

Average_duration

:

25:38

Movement_count

:

3

Movement ....

Ferruccio Busoni's "Fantasy & Fugue on the Chorale Ad nos, ad salutarem undam, KiV B59" is a monumental work for solo organ, composed in 1901. The piece was premiered by Busoni himself in the same year at the Stadtcasino in Basel, Switzerland. The work is divided into three movements: the Fantasy, the Fugue, and the Coda. The Fantasy is a free-form introduction that explores the main theme of the piece, the chorale "Ad nos, ad salutarem undam" from Giacomo Meyerbeer's opera "Le prophète." Busoni takes this theme and transforms it through a series of virtuosic variations, showcasing the full range and power of the organ. The movement builds to a climax before transitioning seamlessly into the Fugue. The Fugue is a massive, complex structure that showcases Busoni's mastery of counterpoint. The theme of the chorale is presented in a strict fugue form, with multiple voices weaving in and out of each other in a dizzying display of contrapuntal skill. The fugue builds to a massive climax before transitioning into the Coda. The Coda is a brief, reflective section that brings the piece to a close. Busoni returns to the main theme of the chorale, but this time in a more subdued and introspective manner. The piece ends with a quiet, contemplative chord, bringing the listener back to the stillness of the organ and the space in which it is played. Overall, "Fantasy & Fugue on the Chorale Ad nos, ad salutarem undam, KiV B59" is a monumental work that showcases Busoni's virtuosic skill as an organist and his mastery of counterpoint. The piece is a tour-de-force of organ music, and remains one of Busoni's most celebrated works to this day.

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