Fantasie für Klavier, Chor und Orchester (Klavierauszug)

In a blend of cantata and concert piece, Beethoven sets a hymn to art in the Choral Fantasy. This approximately twenty-minute work is often seen as a precursor to the 'Ode to Joy' from the 9th Symphony. After a piano introduction, a dialogue unfolds over nearly 400 measures between the piano and orchestra, before soloists and choir join in during the final roughly 200 measures. In the main section titled 'Finale' (beginning with basses and cellos), the theme that also underlies the 'Ode to Joy' is introduced, varied, and ultimately transformed into the 'Marcia' in F major, originating from Beethoven's early song 'Gegenliebe' (WoO 118). The primary source for the edition is the first print from 1811, published in parts and verified by Beethoven, while the English vocal score by Clementi (1810) is used as a comparative source. The edition includes an English singing version translated by Natalia Macfarren from the 19th century.