Grande Fantaisie

Duration: ca. 13'20''
Edited by András Adorján

Performing artists:
András Adorján
Jan Philip Schulze, Piano
from CD „Doppler Discoveries“ FARAO classics B 108104 – CD ref. 070.170
http://www.farao-classics.de

FIRST MODERN EDITION

This recently discovered and hitherto unknown Grande Fantaisie for flute and piano is an early work of Franz Doppler. It is still without all’ongarese elements and may have been written around 1850, before Doppler had started to have his compositions published in about 1858. The fantasy opens with a slow introduction, followed by a theme and a couple of variations. The source of the theme is not revealed, however it bears close resemblance to the song „An Alexis send’ ich Dich“ by Friedrich Heinrich Himmel as well as to the Andante (favori) in f-major for Piano, WoO 57 by Beethoven. Both of them were very popular and often used for improvisations and variations at that time.

 

 

Flute and Piano

• Franz (1821-1883) and Carl (1825-1900) Doppler were among the best-known musicians of their time. They were both born in Lemberg but lived from 1838 in Hungary. They started their solo career in 1852 as a remarkable flute duo, playing jointly composed pieces. In 1858 Franz was appointed first flute and ballet conductor at the Vienna Hofoper, and in 1865 he also became a professor for flute at the Vienna Conservatory. Besides their flute music, which they had written jointly in their youth, both brothers left independently composed operas, stage and ballet music, which were played with great success for many years, but are entirely forgotten and remain unknown to this day.