Music with Ease > Classical Music > Concert Guide: Romantic Era > Fantasia in C Major - Schubert

Schubert's Fantasia in C Major was originally written for piano and was arranged for piano and orchestra as a concerto by Liszt. It is four movements which are played continuously. The first begins with a theme given out by full orchestra which, after development, is taken in the piano. After development by piano and orchestra, the piano introduces the second theme, which is worked out and followed by a third theme, which begins with the closing phrase of the second. After this is worked out, the second movement, an Adagio, consisting of variations on the composer's song. "The Wanderer," begins. They first appear in the piano and after the first variation, piano and orchestra are employed, the latter having the melody and the piano accompanying. The theme of the third movement is suggestive of the opening theme of the first movement. After it is worked up, the second theme appears in the orchestra. The oboe follows with a passage from the second theme of the first movement. The working out of the first theme closes the movement. The last movement opens with a fugue for piano built on the leading theme of the first movement. After development, the theme is given to the orchestra and finally developed in arpeggio passages in the piano, which brings the work to a close.