Choral Fantasy (Beethoven)
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The Fantasy in C minor for Piano, Chorus, and Orchestra, op. 80, was composed in 1808 by Ludwig van Beethoven.
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[edit] Background, composition, and reception
Beethoven conceived the Choral Fantasy as a finale for a concert at the Theater an der Wien on December 22, 1808, which featured the premieres of his fifth and sixth symphonies and his fourth piano concerto. He wrote the piece during the second half of December, an unusually short time by his standards. The lyrics to the choral part of the piece were commissioned from poet Christopher Kuffner, shortly before the performance, to fit the already written parts.
The premiere performance seemed to be somewhat disastrous; according to the composer's secretary, Anton Felix Schindler, it "simply fell apart," a result most likely attributed to inadequate rehearsal time. Nevertheless, in marking Beethoven's first complete attempt to marry instrumental with choral music, the Fantasy became an early precursor to his revolutionary Ninth Symphony sixteen years later.
[edit] Form
The Choral Fantasy, which in most performances lasts about 20 minutes, is divided into seven sections:
- Adagio
- Allegro
- Meno allegro
- Adagio ma non troppo
- Marcia, assai vivace
- Allegretto, ma non troppo
- Presto.
The Fantasy opens with a slow but virtuosic 26-bar piano introduction, modulating from c minor to C major and back again. The main part of the piece, marked "Finale", begins with an Allegro theme played by the cellos and basses. Next, the solo piano introduces the choral theme in an ornamented version. Variations on the theme are then played by the flutes, oboes, clarinets, and string soloists, respectively. A full orchestral version of the theme, played at a forte dynamic leads into a more lyrical piano line.
The orchestra accompanies an eighth-note heavy piano part as the piece modulates from c minor to C major. A calm, flowing A major section, ending with a call-and-response section between double reeds, horn, and piano, leads into the Marcia, an F major variation on the main theme in march style. A reprise of the instrumental theme from the first allegro transitions into the choral entrance.
The chorus enters with the sopranos and altos singing the main theme, harmonized in triads. The tenors and basses then sing the theme, after which the entire chorus is joined by the orchestra in a tutti rendition. A presto coda with orchestra, chorus, and piano brings the piece to a close.
[edit] The Choral Fantasy and Beethoven's Ninth Symphony
The Choral Fantasy is similar in many ways to the fourth movement of Beethoven's Symphony No. 9. Obviously, both feature a chorus. Both pieces also contain a set of instrumental variations on the theme sung by the chorus. Also, the lyrics for both are joyous and uplifting.
