Fantasy Pieces Op. 43 – for Clarinet and Piano

Niels Wilhelm Gade (1817-1890) left to the musical world an extensive oeuvre of orchestral and chamber music works, works for organ and piano, lieder and chants as well as incidental music. His versatility as an instrumentalist, composer, conductor and director of the conservatoire made him the most important figure in the Danish musical scene of his time. ‘Fantasiestucke’ (Fantasy Pieces) Op. 43 is among the most frequently played original works for clarinet and piano. The present edition is based on the autograph (1864) from the Royal Library of Copenhagen and on the first edition (1865) by Kistner in Leipzig. Gade’s compositions stand out due to his great mastery in instrumentation. The same applies to these four melodically and harmonically original ‘Fantasiestucke’. The clarinet is treated like an instrument that can contribute a wide range of expressive means.