Fantasia for piano, choir and orchestra
Choral Fantasy
by Ludwig van Beethoven
SSATB - Sheet Music

Orchestra Soli SSATB, Coro SATB, Pfte, 2 Fl, 2 Ob, 2 Clt, 2 Fg, 2 Cor, 2 Tr, Timp, 2 Vl, Va, Vc/Cb

SKU: CA.1039403

Choral Fantasy. Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven. Edited by Ulrich Leisinger. Arranged by Xaver Scharwenka, Claus-Dieter Ludwig. Secular choral music. Vocal score. Composed 1808/1809. Op. 80. Duration 20 minutes. Carus Verlag #CV 10.394/03. Published by Carus Verlag (CA.1039403).

ISBN M-007-18768-2. Key: C minor. German/English. Text: Christoph Kuffner.

In a mixture of cantata and concert piece, Beethoven set a hymn to art in his Choral Fantasy. The work, about 20 minutes in length, is often seen as a precursor to the "Ode to Joy" in the 9th Symphony. After a piano introduction, a dialog between piano and orchestra develops in the space of just 400 measures, before the soloists and chorus enter for the last 200 measures. (If necessary, the solo parts can be sung by members of the chorus or a semi-chorus.) In the main section, headed "Finale" (beginning with the double basses and celli), the theme from Beethoven's early song "Gegenliebe" (WoO 118, also used in the "Ode to Joy") is presented, varied and finally used in the "March" in F major. The main source of the Choral Fantasia for the edition is the first edition of the parts, published in 1811 and corrected by Beethoven; alongside this an English edition of the parts published by Clementi (1810) has been consulted for comparison. The edition contains an English singing version in a translation by Natalia Macfarren from the 19th century. Score available separately - see item CA.1039400.