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the Fantaisie

That makes it even worse.

For those "devoted to Chopin" the Fantaisie most definitely means the Fantaisie in F minor.

BTW, how about props to Kathleen for the great title of the thread? By now it's such a familiar title to us that maybe we stop appreciating it. But it kicks major butt.

I have better things to do than dwell on this but I know there are plenty of subscribers of this thread who know exactly what I mean by Fontana's commentary on the Fantaisie.

Hey, no problema! I'm grateful to you for bringing it up!

But the Fantaisie means the Fantaisie.

..and commentary means commentary.

Oh, wow, Fontana wrote something in words about the Fantaisie-Impromptu? I haven't seen that, nor heard of it, and would love to find it in any language. For a moment it seemed to me that "his commentary" would be the edition of the piece he put out, so different from the one sold to the Baroness d'Est by Chopin some years earlier, which, as we've discussed here, may have been based upon a manuscript that has since been lost. Knowing something about his thinking regarding this piece would be fascinating.

(Frankly, I would have been likely to think first of the F Minor Fantasy if I saw the word "Fantaisie" without "Impromptu" myself, as well.)

Meanwhile, do any of you, especially those in Poland or with university library connections, have any idea how to get more Fontana sheet music? It obviously exists, since it's been recorded, but I'm afraid it may only be available from private sources in Poland. The producer of the only current CD of his works said there was a great deal of it, but not where he'd found it. I have yet to try to contact the recording company.

Elene

You didn't even need to be frank to say that.

I think it's safe to say that the same would be true for upwards of 99% of people who've heard of this Fontana guy.

Why do I emphasize stuff like this? To help communication.

This thread might help.

Are you joking?

If not, it means you didn't look that closely at the thread.

(I was the person on there who asked about this -- and the answers didn't help.)

No, I'm not joking. Yes, I did look closely at the thread.
Perhaps someone else might find it helpful.

Sure. But it was to me that you suggested it.

Well I certainly won't do it again.

Mark, it's time to evolve, sir.

Sorry, I can't help: no mac.

I know!
And I hit a wall. And accepted it.

My bad. I assumed this would be well known. It was published with the first edition:

First page

Second page

Now that I've bothered to read it with my limited French I can see it's biographical. There's nothing about any particular work. Is it where the birthday fuss starts though?

I'm hanging around this conversation listening to you talk about the fantaisie. Just wanted to let you know I'm lurking, glass of wine in hand, and Chopin sheet music in the other. I'm a novice at playing Chopin but have been listening for years. What does "totally devoted" really mean? Must I give up all other music and throw myself into total concentration on my Chopin ambitions. Or can an occasional Beethoven or popular piece sneak onto the music rack?

WiseBuff, I'm spending a lot of time on Barber, in particular....

Chopin r us, that commentary is still interesting, even though it doesn't talk about the specific piece. (It looks like Mikuli's comments for his edition-- one size fits all, same for each book.) On my small screen I'm zooming it and then wearing magnifying glasses! Dang-- I could translate it reasonably well if I had time, which I don't right now. I'll try to make a quick summary at least, if you don't or would rather not. It doesn't seem to tell us anything that we didn't know, but still, I'm interested to hear directly from Fontana himself.

I don't know whether this is where the "birthday fuss" started, but oh my, Fontana was in close contact with Chopin and with his family, and if he thought Chopin had been born in 1809, maybe that IS correct after all? Having looked at all the evidence both ways, I've never been convinced by the 1809 date. Double dang. I wish something could be clear and definite about that man's life.


Elene

The trick is to download the high quality version - then zoom up.

WiseBuff - if you're really totally devoted that only leaves room for two others - Bach and Mozart!

I just found "Chopin and his Circle" at a book fair for only 2 dollars. And itr looks like new! I cannot wait to read it.

I just wrote a response to WiseBuff regarding my use of the term "totally devoted." Then, as so often happens, the screen disappeared into cyberspace.

So I'll get right to the point and quickly before it happens again. I believe no other composer has been able to create such exquisite poetry for the piano. Music that touches the soul and lifts and spirit with remarkable charm and magnificent power. He and his music are in a class by themselves and will continue to be so.

Take this thread for example...I think it speaks for itself. I believe its sheer number of "hits" could very well mean that I am not alone in my devotion.

And a welcome to you, WiseBuff.

Kathleen