''Fantasia contrappuntistica'' is a solo piano piece composed by

Ferruccio Busoni Ferruccio Busoni (1 April 1866 – 27 July 1924) was an Italian composer, pianist, conductor, editor, writer, and teacher. His international career and reputation led him to work closely with many of the leading musicians, artists and literary ...

in 1910. Busoni created a number of versions of the work, including several for solo

piano The piano is a stringed keyboard instrument in which the strings are struck by wooden hammers that are coated with a softer material (modern hammers are covered with dense wool felt; some early pianos used leather). It is played using a keyboa ...

and one for two pianos. It has been

arranged In music, an arrangement is a musical adaptation of an existing composition. Differences from the original composition may include reharmonization, melodic paraphrasing, orchestration, or formal development. Arranging differs from orchestra ...

for

organ Organ may refer to: Biology * Organ (biology), a part of an organism Musical instruments * Organ (music), a family of keyboard musical instruments characterized by sustained tone ** Electronic organ, an electronic keyboard instrument ** Hammond ...

(by

Wilhelm Middelschulte Wilhelm Middelschulte (April 3, 1863, Werve, Kreis Hamm, now part of Kamen – May 4, 1943, Dortmund) was a German organist and composer who resided in America for most of his career. Life Middelschulte initially studied organ with August Knabe ...

, dedicatee of the work, whom Busoni praised as "''Meister des Kontrapunktes''") and for

orchestra An orchestra (; ) is a large instrumental ensemble typical of classical music, which combines instruments from different families. There are typically four main sections of instruments: * bowed string instruments, such as the violin, viola, c ...

(by

Frederick Stock Frederick Stock (born Friedrich August Stock; November 11, 1872 – October 20, 1942) was a German conductor and composer, most famous for his 37-year tenure as music director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Early life and education Born ...

) under the composer's supervision. The work is in large part a homage to

Johann Sebastian Bach Johann Sebastian Bach (28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the late Baroque period. He is known for his orchestral music such as the '' Brandenburg Concertos''; instrumental compositions such as the Cello Suites; keyboard w ...

's ''

Die Kunst der Fuge ''The Art of Fugue'', or ''The Art of the Fugue'' (german: Die Kunst der Fuge, links=no), BWV 1080, is an incomplete musical work of unspecified instrumentation by Johann Sebastian Bach. Written in the last decade of his life, ''The Art of Fug ...

''. Conversely,

Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji (born Leon Dudley Sorabji; 14 August 1892 – 15 October 1988) was an English composer, music critic, pianist and writer whose music, written over a period of seventy years, ranges from sets of miniatures to wor ...

's ''

Opus clavicembalisticum ''Opus clavicembalisticum'' is a work for solo piano composed by Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji, completed on 25 June 1930. It is notable for its length and difficulty: at the time of its completion it was the longest piano piece in existence. It ...

'' appears to be a homage to ''Fantasia contrappuntistica''.

Sections and Piece analysis

''Fantasia contrappuntistica'' is written in twelve parts, and takes about 25 minutes to perform: #Preludio corale #Fuga I #Fuga II #Fuga III (on B-A-C-H) #Intermezzo #Variazione I #Variazione II #Variazione III #Cadenza #Fuga IV #Corale #Stretta The first ten pages of the introductory "Preludio corale" are nearly identical to the Third Elegy with a few small cuts and alterations, including the removal of all

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

expression marks or their translation into

Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance language *** Regional Ita ...

. In the third

fugue In music, a fugue () is a contrapuntal compositional technique in two or more voices, built on a subject (a musical theme) that is introduced at the beginning in imitation (repetition at different pitches) and which recurs frequently in the c ...

, there is a returning melody composed of four notes, which are B♭, A, C, and B♮. These four notes spell Bach in German, where the H is the B♮, and are commonly known as the

B-A-C-H motif In music, the BACH motif is the motif (music), motif, a succession of note (music), notes important or characteristic to a musical composition, piece, ''B flat, A, C, B natural''. In German musical nomenclature, in which the note ''B ...

Manuscripts

The manuscripts in Busoni's hand are in the

Berlin State Library The Berlin State Library (german: Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin; officially abbreviated as ''SBB'', colloquially ''Stabi'') is a universal library in Berlin, Germany and a property of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation. It is one of the larg ...

as part of the

Busoni Archive This article presents a complete catalog of original compositions by Ferruccio Busoni, including a large number of early works, most of which remain unpublished. The earliest preserved pieces were written when he was barely seven years old. Over ...

Publication history

*BV 255 Große Fuge :1) ''Title:'' Große Fuge. Kontrapunktische Fantasie über Joh. Seb. Bach's letztes unvollendetes Werk für Klavier ausgeführt. reat Fugue. Contrapuntal Fantasy on Joh. Seb. Bach's Last Unfinished Work (from the "Art of the Fugue," BWV 1080), realized for piano.] ::''Published:'' New York: G. Schirmer, Copyright 1910, plate no. 22004, (100 copies printed privately), (39 pages). ::''Dedication:'' An Wilhelm Middelschulte Meister des Kontrapunktes ::''Dated (p. 39):'' Begonnen auf dem Dampfer "Barbarossa" um Neujahr 1910. Beendet in New Orleans am 1. März 1910. egun on the steamship "Barbarossa" on New Year's 1910. Finished in New Orleans on 1 March 1910.::''Notes:'' :::1) p. 30: "Diese Zusammenstellung des Hauptthemas aus der Kunst der Fuge mit den drei vorigen Subjecten verdanke ich den Studien des Herrn Bernhard Ziehm in Chicago. F. B." For this combination of the main themes from the Art of the Fugue I am indebted to Mr. Berhard Ziehm in Chicago. F. B. (Ferruccio Busoni).:::2) p. 38: "Partitur-Darstellung der Durchführung auf S. 33, welche aus clavieristischen Gründen dort eingeschränkt ercheint." Score-representation of the execution on p. 33, which is abridged there for pianistic reasons.":::3) p. 39, the plan of the work: "Fuga I: Subject 1; Fuga II: Subject 2 und 1; Fuga III: Subject 3 und die vorigen: Intermezzo: Subject 3; Variazione 1.: Subject 1; Variazione 2: Subject 3; Variazione 3: Subject 2 and die vorigen; Cadenza: Subject 3 and 4; Fuga IV: Subject 4 and the vorigen; Stretta" ::''Ref:'' Kindermann, pp. 244–245. :2) ''Published:'' Boston: Boston Music Company, 1910 ::''Ref:'' Roberge, p. 35. *BV 256 Fantasia contrappuntistica (edizione definitiva) :1) ''Title:'' Fantasia contrappuntistica. Preludio al Corale "Gloria al Signore nei Cieli" e Fuga a quattro obbligati sopra un frammento di Bach. Compilita per il Pianoforte. (Edizione definitiva) ontrapuntal Fantasy. Prelude to the chorale "Glory to the Lord in Heaven" and Fugue in four obbligato voices on a fragment of Bach. Compiled for the piano.] ::Leipzig: Breitkopf & Härtel, Copyright 1910, cat.no. V.A. 3491 (45 pages) ::Dated: (Giugno 1910). ::''Note:'' The plan of the work "Distribuzione dell'opera" is on the final unpaginated page. ::''Ref:'' Kindermann, pp. 245–250. :2) ''Title:'' Fantasia contrappuntistica ::''Published:'' Leipzig: Breitkopf & Härtel,

916 __NOTOC__ Year 916 ( CMXVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Europe * Sicilian Berbers in Agrigento revolt and depose the independent Emir Ahmed ibn Khor ...

cat. no. BB IV. ::''In:'' Bach-Busoni Complete Edition, Vol. IV, pp. 82–123 (42 pages); pp. 125–127 (Appendix) (3 pages) ::''Dedication:'' An Wilhelm Middelschulte, Meister des Kontrapunktes. ::''Reprint:'' Leipzig: Breitkopf & Härtel,

920 __NOTOC__ Year 920 ( CMXX) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Byzantine Empire * December 17 – Romanos I has himself crowned co-emperor of the Byza ...

cat. no. BB IV. ::''Note:'' The Appendix contains music cut from Fuga IV and still present at this point n the scorein the first edition, which Busoni decided to omit for public performance. ::''Ref:'' Kindermann, pp. 245–250. :3) ''Title:'' Fantasia contrappuntistica ::''Published:'' Wiesbaden: Breitkopf & Härtel,

983 Year 983 ( CMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Europe * Summer – Diet of Verona: Emperor Otto II (the Red) declares war against the Byza ...

(Roberge), cat. no. Edition Breitkopf 3491, pp. 1–43; pp. 44–45 (Appendix) ::''Dedication:'' An Wilhelm Middelschulte, Meister des Kontrapunktes. ::''Note:'' The Appendix contains music cut from Fuga IV (p. 37) and still present at this point n the scorein the first edition, which Busoni decided to omit for public performance. ::''Ref:'
IMSLP #03400
Image:Busoni fc.pdf (14:08, 2 September 2008) ::''Ref:'' Roberge, p. 35. *BV 256a Fantasia contrappuntistica (edizione minore) :1) ''Title:'' Choral-Vorspiel und Fuge über ein Bachsches Fragment (Der "Fantasia Contrappuntistica" kleine Ausgabe). Preludio al Corale e Fuga sopra un frammento di Bach (Edizione minore della "Fantasia Contrappuntistica") horale Prelude and Fugue on a Bach Fragment (Minor edition of the "Fantasia Contrappuntistica")::''Published:'' Leipzig: Breitkopf & Härtel, Copyright 1912, cat.no. V.A. 3829 (21 pages) ::''Dedication:'' gewidmet Richard Buhlig. ::''Note:'' This edition contains a preface by Busoni. :2) ''Title:'' same as for (1) ::''Published:'' Leipzig: Breitkopf & Härtel,

cat. no. BB IV. ::''In:'' Bach-Busoni Complete Edition Vol. IV, pp. 61–79. ::''Dedication:'' An Richard Buhlig. ::''Note:'' This edition contains a foreword. ::''Reprint:'' Leipzig: Breitkopf & Härtel,

cat. no. BB IV. ::''Ref:'' Kindermann, pp. 250–251. *BV 256b Fantasia contrappuntistica (for two pianos) :1) ''Title:'' Fantasia contrappuntistica. Choral-Variationen über "Ehre sei Gott in der Höhe" gefolgt von einer Quadrupel-Fuge über einBachsches Fragment für zwei Klaviere horale Variations on "Glory to God in the Highest" followed by a quadruple fugue on a Bach fragment for two pianos.::''Published:'' Leipzig: Breitkopf & Härtel, Copyright 1922, cat.no. E.B. 5196, plate no. 28713 (68 pages) ::''Dedication:'' An das Künstler- und Freundespaar Kwast-Hodapp. ::''Notes:'' :::1) According to a later entry in Schnapp's Busoni-Archive catalog, the now-lost autograph had the following date at the end: "Berlin, 3. Juli 1921" :::2) The Busoni-Archive of the Berlin State Library (Busoni-Archive No. 356) preserves a proof copy with Busoni's handwritten corrections. :::3) On the back of the title page is a plan of the work: "A. Analytischer 1. Choral-Variationen (Einleitung – Choral und Variationen – Übergang). 2. Fuga I. 3. Fuga II. 4. Fuga III. 5. Intermezzo. 6. Variato I. 7. Variato II. 8. Variato III. 9. Cadenza. 10. Fuga IV. 11. Corale. 12. Stretta. – B. Architektonischer: Zeichnung in Form einer Gebäudefassade." :::4) According to the B&H Busoni catalog this edition appeared in 1921. ::''Reprints:'' :::1) Leipzig: VEB Breitkopf & Härtel, 955 or later:::2) Wiesbaden: Breitkopf & Härtel,

966 Year 966 (Roman numerals, CMLXVI) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Byzantine Empire * 23 June - Arab-Byzantine Wars, Byzantine-Arab War: Arab-Byzantine ...

::''Ref:'' Kindermann, p. 251.

Arrangements

* Fantasia contrappuntistica: Transcribed for large orchestra and organ by

. ** Title: Sinfonia contrappuntistica. Choralvorspiel (Gott in der Höh' allein sei Ehr) und Fuge über ein Fragment von J. S. Bach. Original für Clavier von Ferruccio Busoni. In Grosses Orchester und Orgel übertragen von Fr. A. Stock ** Manuscript: Autograph of Frederick A. Stock, Chicago. ** Date of composition: "begonnen Donnerstag, 24. Juli 1911 – beendet Freitag, 11. August 1911. Düsseldorf." ** Instrumentation: 3 flutes, 3 oboes, 3 clarinets, 2 bassoons, contrabasson; 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba; timpani, percussion (glockenspiel); harp, organ; strings ** Score: 96 pages with notes. ** First performance: 21 August 1911,

Dortmund Dortmund (; Westphalian nds, Düörpm ; la, Tremonia) is the third-largest city in North Rhine-Westphalia after Cologne and Düsseldorf, and the eighth-largest city of Germany, with a population of 588,250 inhabitants as of 2021. It is the la ...

. ** Note: The Stock orchestration was authorized by Busoni, who heard the first performance with mixed reactions: 'What the layman understands by "music of the angels" was brought into being. Stock's orchestral arrangement is un-mystical and, for my taste, lacking in fragrancy and in transparency, though in some parts brilliant work.' In 1913 Busoni was scheduled to conduct this version for the

Royal Philharmonic Society The Royal Philharmonic Society (RPS) is a British music society, formed in 1813. Its original purpose was to promote performances of instrumental music in London. Many composers and performers have taken part in its concerts. It is now a memb ...

of London. At the rehearsals he began to insist on changes to the orchestration, but there was inadequate time for the new parts to be copied out, so the work was withdrawn. As a result, this version has never been played again. ** Ref: Kindermann, p. 249;

Beaumont Beaumont may refer to: Places Canada * Beaumont, Alberta * Beaumont, Quebec England * Beaumont, Cumbria * Beaumont, Essex ** Beaumont Cut, a canal closed in the 1930s * Beaumont Street, Oxford France (communes) * Beaumont, Ardèche * ...

, pp. 170, 175; Roberge, p. 35. * Fantasia contrappuntistica: Transcribed for organ by

. ** Title: Ferruccio Busoni. Fantasia Contrappuntistica. Preludio e Corale "Gloria al Signore nei Cieli" e Fuga a quattro soggetti obligati sopra un framment di Bach. Für Orgel übertragen von Wilhelm Middelschulte. ** Date of composition: 1911 ** Published: Leipzig: Breitkopf & Härtel, 1912. EB 3612 ** Ref: Kindermann, ;

, ; Roberge, ; Sitsky, . * Fantasia Contrappuntistica: Newly transcribed for organ by Helmut Bornefeld. ** Title: Ferruccio Busoni. Fantasia Contrappuntistica über ein Bachsches Fragment für Orgel bearbeitet von Helmut Bornefeld ** Date of composition: "Berabeitung fertiggestellt am 10. Oktober 1955." ** Manuscript: Wiesbaden: Breitkopf & Härtel ** Published: Wiesbaden: Breitkopf & Härtel, 1962, EB 6342, plate no. Wb. 495, (64 pages). ** Notes: **# Foreword, dated "Heidenheim-Brenz, März 1962" **# Generally uses the text of the two-piano version, BV 256b ** Ref: Kindermann, p. 249;

, ; Roberge, p. 35; Sitsky, . * Fantasia Contrappuntistica: Transcribed for double string orchestra, piano, 2 harps and celesta by

Antony Beaumont Antony Beaumont (born 27 January 1949, in London)Jacket notes for Beaumont (1987). is an English and German musicologist, writer, conductor and violinist.Lewis, Uncle Dave, ''Allmusic'', reproduced aAnswers.com Accessed on 3 February 2009. As a ...

. ** Date of composition: 1971 ** Dedication: to

Ronald Stevenson Ronald James Stevenson (6 March 1928 – 28 March 2015) was a Scottish composer, pianist, and writer about music. Biography The son of a Scottish father and Welsh mother, Stevenson was born in Blackburn, Lancashire, in 1928. He studied at the ...

** Published: Wiesbaden: Breitkopf & Härtel, 1977 (manuscript facsimile). ** Note: Generally uses the text of the two-piano version, BV 256b, but restores some of the cuts in the fugues. Acknowledges debt to Bartók for the choice of instrumentation which resembles that of Bartók's ''

Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta ''Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta'', Sz. 106, BB 114 is one of the best-known compositions by the Hungarian composer Béla Bartók. Commissioned by Paul Sacher to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the chamber orchestra '' Basler Kammero ...

''. The first movement of the Bartók piece is also a fugue which employs Bernhard Ziehn's symmetrical techniques. ** Ref:

, pp. 160, 176; Roberge, . * Fantasia Contrappuntistica: Transcribed for orchestra by

Larry Sitsky Lazar "Larry" Sitsky (born 10 September 1934) is an Australian composer, pianist, and music educator and scholar. His long term legacy is still to be assessed, but through his work to date he has made a significant contribution to the Austra ...

. ** Title: Concerto for Orchestra: Completion and Realization of Busoni's "Fantasia Contrappuntistica" ** Date of composition: 1984 ** Published: Australian Music Centre ** Ref: Roberge, ; Sitsky, .

Notes

References

* Beaumont, Antony (1985). ''Busoni the Composer''. London:

Faber and Faber Faber and Faber Limited, usually abbreviated to Faber, is an independent publishing house in London. Published authors and poets include T. S. Eliot (an early Faber editor and director), W. H. Auden, Margaret Storey, William Golding, Samuel B ...

. * Dent, Edward J. (1933). ''Ferruccio Busoni: A Biography'', London:

Oxford University Press Oxford University Press (OUP) is the university press of the University of Oxford. It is the largest university press in the world, and its printing history dates back to the 1480s. Having been officially granted the legal right to print books ...

. (Reprint: London: Ernst Eulenberg, 1974) * Kindermann, Jürgen (1980). ''Thematisch-chronologisches Verzeichnis der Werke von Ferruccio B. Busoni''. Studien zur Musikgeschichte des 19. Jahrhunderts, vol. 19. Regensburg: . * Roberge, Marc-André (1991). ''Ferruccio Busoni: a bio-bibliography''. New York:

Greenwood Press Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc. (GPG), also known as ABC-Clio/Greenwood (stylized ABC-CLIO/Greenwood), is an educational and academic publisher (middle school through university level) which is today part of ABC-Clio. Established in 1967 as Gr ...

. * Schnapp, Friedrich (1928). Katalog der im Nachlaß vorhandeden Musik-Manuskripte Ferruccio Busonis, 1873–1924. Typescript.

, Busoni Archive. (Cited by Kindermann, 1980, p. 17; Beaumont, 1985, p. 355; Roberge, 1991, pp. xi, 143.) *

Sitsky, Larry Lazar "Larry" Sitsky (born 10 September 1934) is an Australian composer, pianist, and music educator and scholar. His long term legacy is still to be assessed, but through his work to date he has made a significant contribution to the Austra ...

(2008). ''Busoni and the Piano. The Works, the Writings, and the Recordings''. (2nd ed.) Hillsdale, NY: Pendragon Press. [First edition, Westport:

,1986. ]

External links

*
Analysis by Kenneth Derus
{{Authority control Compositions by Ferruccio Busoni Compositions for solo piano 1910 compositions

Busoni Ferruccio Busoni (1 April 1866 – 27 July 1924) was an Italian composer, pianist, conductor, editor, writer, and teacher. His international career and reputation led him to work closely with many of the leading musicians, artists and literary f ...