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Morceaux de fantaisie (French for Fantasy Pieces; Russian: Пьесы Фантазии, Pyesy Fantazii), Op. 3, is a set of five piano solo pieces composed by Sergei Rachmaninoff in 1892. The title reflects the pieces' imagery rather than their musical form, as none are actual fantasies. The set was dedicated to Anton Arensky, his harmony teacher at the Conservatory.
Contents
Elegie in E-flat minor
Elegie (Элегия, Elegiya) is a musical elegy at moderato tempo.
Prelude in C-sharp minor
The second piece, Prelude (Прелюдия, Prelyudiya) is undoubtedly the most famous of the set.
Melody in E major
Melody (Мелодия, Melodiya) is a short piece played Adagio sostenuto. It was rewritten by Rachmaninoff in 1940, along
with the Serenade.
Polichinelle in F-sharp minor
The fourth piece, called Polichinelle (Полишинель, Polishinyelʹ) is in F-sharp minor, and played Allegro vivace. It is a character piece, based on the Commedia dell'arte character Pulcinella (Polichinelle is the French translation of this word) from which Punch (from Punch and Judy) derives. It is in ternary form (ABA), beginning and ending with a fast section that gives way to a slower, lyrical melodious passage in the middle.
Serenade in B-flat minor
The set ends with Serenade (Серенада, Serenada). It was rewritten by Rachmaninoff in 1940, along with the Melodie in E major.