Fantasia in F minor Op 103 (D940)    

Franz Schubert

The Fantasia in F Minor is one of Schubert's greatest works.  It was composed in 1828, the year of his death, and first performed on May 9th of that year for the composer's close friends.

The Fantasia consists of four main sections, the work opening, like one of his leider, with two bars of an accompanying figure before we hear the haunting main theme.  Soon the poetic opening gives way to a dramatic second subject which is martial in character.  The beautiful opening theme returns twice before the section comes to its close, modulating to the key of F sharp minor for the majestic opening of the Adagio.

The Adagio is operatic in style and after a recitative opening there is a love duet.  The section closes dramatically and is contrasted perfectly by the playful Allegro which follows.  The opening theme reappears to herald the final fugato section, which gains great momentum as it draws towards the climax, only to be halted abruptly with a bar of silence before the work finishes with a final utterance of the wonderful opening theme.

This composition is dedicated to Countess Caroline Ersterhazy, the only music actually dedicated to her in writing by the man who once said that he had dedicated all his works to her in his thoughts.

© Claire and Antoinette Cann 1996