Frédéric Chopin

Grand Fantasie on Polish Tunes in A op. 13/ CT 41

Grande fantaisie sur des airs polonais in A, Op. 13 / CT 41 by Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849) was composed between 1828 and 1830, during his student years at the Warsaw Conservatory under Józef Elsner. The work -- sometimes titled "Fantasy on Polish Airs," "Fantaisie brillante," "Grosse Phantasie über Polnische Weisen," or simply "Grande Fantaisie" -- melds traditional Polish folk melodies and dance themes (including a kujawiak and an air beloved by Chopin's mother) with a romantic fantasy structure, combining lyrical nostalgia with virtuoso piano display. It was first performed publicly on March 17, 1830, at the same concert that premiered Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2. Although Chopin's later years saw him focus almost exclusively on solo piano, this Fantaisie remains a vivid testimony to his early orchestral ambitions, and -- while overshadowed by his concertos and solo works -- it continues to enjoy occasional performances and recordings as a charming, folkloric-romantic showpiece that highlights both pianist and orchestra in a less-frequent glimpse of Chopin's orchestral voice. Reprint of the 1880 edition produced as part of the Friedrich Chopin's Werke. Instrumentation: 2.2.2.2: 2.2.0.0: Timp: Str (9.8.7.6.5 in set): Solo Piano. Reprint edition.