Fantasia in G minor, H. 238
- Instrumentation
- Cello, Piano
- Composed
- 1829
- Duration
- 5'38''
- Publisher
- Breitkopf & Härtel
Purchase or download
About this piece
Fanny Hensel wrote this G minor fantasia in autumn 1829, around the time of her wedding, for her youngest brother Paul, a gifted amateur cellist; she headed the manuscript 'Sonata o Fantasia'. It is one of only two works she wrote for cello and piano and is considerably larger in scope than her violin Adagio. Breitkopf's Urtext edition points to Beethoven's cello sonatas as the model, with the two instruments sharing the material in a balanced dialogue. A gorgeous short piece: achingly beautiful yearning, lightened by a brighter middle section and a surprising, delightful ending. Published together with the Capriccio in one Breitkopf volume; a free edition is available from the Hensel Pushers project.
Technical overview
Multi-section single movement: Andante doloroso, Prestissimo, Poco più lento, Andante ma in modo di fantasia, Allegro molto moderato. The free HenselPushers edition marks passages with '!' that are to be played in the (higher) position in which they are written, and offers an annotated cello part with bowings and fingerings by Miranda Wilson.
Technical focus
- Shifting