Morceaux de fantaisie

Morceaux de fantaisie (French for Fantasy Pieces; Russian: Пьесы Фантазии, Pyesy Fantazii), Op. 3, is a set of five piano solo pieces composed by Sergei Rachmaninoff in 1892. The title reflects the pieces' imagery rather than their musical form, as none are actual fantasies. The set was dedicated to Anton Arensky, his harmony teacher at the Conservatory.

	Prelude Op. 3, No. 2 Played by Rachmaninoff himself for Edison Records in 1919.
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Composition

Elegie in E-flat minor

Elegie is a slower, more meditative piece compared to the others

Elegie (Элегия, Elegiya) is a musical elegy at moderato tempo.

Prelude in C-sharp minor

Prelude is famous for its theme and coda

The second piece, Prelude (Прелюдия, Prelyudiya) is undoubtably the most famous of the set.

Melody in E major

Melody is a short piece with a powerful climax

Melody (Мелодия, Melodiya) is a short piece played Adagio sostenuto. It was rewritten by Rachmaninoff in 1940, along
with the Serenade.

Polichinelle in F-sharp minor

Polichinelle is both expressive and strong

The fourth piece, called Polichinelle (Полишинель, Polishinyelʹ) is in F-sharp minor, and played Allegro vivace. It is a character piece, based on the Commedia dell'arte character Pulcinella (Polichinelle is the French translation of this word) from which Punch (from Punch and Judy) derives. It is in ternary form (ABA), beginning and ending with a fast section that gives way to a slower, lyrical melodious passage in the middle.

Serenade in B-flat minor

The set ends with Serenade (Серенада, Serenada). It was rewritten by Rachmaninoff in 1940, along with the Melodie in E major.

External links

• Sheet music available at the International Music Score Library Project
• Piano.ru - Sheet music download

Sergei Rachmaninoff Operas Aleko The Miserly Knight Francesca da Rimini Salammbô Monna Vanna Symphonies Symphony No. 1 in D minor Symphony No. 2 in E minor Symphony No. 3 in A minor The Bells (choral symphony) Youth Symphony Concertos Piano Concerto No. 1 in F♯ minor Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor Piano Concerto No. 4 in G minor Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini Orchestra works Scherzo in D minor Suite in D minor Prince Rostislav The Rock Isle of the Dead Symphonic Dances Vocal music All-Night Vigil Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom Spring The Bells Three Russian Songs Vocalise Chamber music Trio élégiaque No. 1 Trio élégiaque No. 2 Cello Sonata in G minor Piano music Morceaux de fantaisie (includes Prelude in C♯ minor) Morceaux de salon Six moments musicaux Variations on a Theme of Chopin 10 Preludes Piano Sonata No. 1 in D minor 13 Preludes Études-Tableaux, Op. 33 Piano Sonata No. 2 in B♭ minor Études-Tableaux, Op. 39 Variations on a Theme of Corelli Polka de W.R. Russian Rhapsody Suite 1 for two pianos Suite 2 for two pianos Étude in F♯ major Lento in D minor Four Pieces Three Nocturnes Piece (Canon) in D minor Prelude in F major Four Improvisations Morceau de Fantaisie in G minor Fughetta in F major Three Pieces Miscellaneous Related articles List of compositions by Sergei Rachmaninoff Youth Rimsky-Korsakov Tchaikovsky Romanticism Category:Sergei Rachmaninoff Portal:Classical music