An impromptu (loosely meaning "offhand") is a free-form musical composition with the character of an improvisation, usually for a solo instrument, such as piano.

The first recorded use of the term impromptu in this sense occurred in 1817, in the Allgemeine musikalische Zeitung, an idea of the publisher to describe a piano piece by Voříšek. Year 1817 ( MDCCCXVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Jan Václav Hugo Voříšek ( May 11, 1791, Vamberk, Bohemia - November 19, 1825, Vienna, Austria)

It didn't take long before the first generation of Romantic composers took up the idea:

• Jan Václav Voříšek was the first one to compose impromptus, in 1822. Romantic Music is a Musicological term referring to a particular period theory compositional practice and canon in European music history from about 1815 to 1910 Jan Václav Hugo Voříšek ( May 11, 1791, Vamberk, Bohemia - November 19, 1825, Vienna, Austria)
• Franz Schubert published two sets of four Impromptus for piano op. Franz Schubert 's Impromptus ', Opus 90 and 142 (post are a series of pieces for solo piano composed in 1827 and first published during the composer's lifetime 90 and 142 (1827). After his death 3 more unnamed piano compositions (Klavierstücke) were sometimes named Impromptus.
• Frédéric Chopin composed 4 Impromptus, including the famous Fantaisie-Impromptu. Frédéric Chopin 's Fantaisie-Impromptu in C-sharp minor Opus Posthumous 66 is a solo Piano composition and one of his most
• Robert Schumann wrote some Impromptus, published as Op. Robert Schumann, sometimes given as Robert Alexander Schumann (June 8 1810 &ndash July 29 1856 was a German Composer, Aesthete and influential Music critic 5.
• Franz Liszt composed an Impromptu in F sharp (sometimes called Nocturne) and a piano piece named Valse-Impromptu. Valse-Impromptu, S213, is a Waltz for solo piano composed by Franz Liszt in the key of A-flat major.
• Jean Sibelius composed six pompromptus for piano op. 5 (1893)

The impromptu genre remained popular all throughout the 19th century. The 19th century of the Common Era began on January 1, 1801 and ended on December 31, 1900, according to the Gregorian calendar

In the 20th century there are fewer examples of composers naming their compositions "Impromptu", e. g. :

• Gabriel Fauré composing six Impromptus between 1881 and 1913. Gabriel Urbain Fauré ( 12 May 1845 &ndash 4 November 1924) was a French Composer, Organist, Pianist Year 1881 ( MDCCCLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Year 1913 ( MCMXIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common
• Maurice Journeau composing six Impromptus between 1871 and 1874^[1]. Maurice Journeau ( November 17, 1898 - June 9, 1999) was a French Composer born in Biarritz. Year 1871 ( MDCCCLXXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Year 1874 ( MDCCCLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common
• Donald Martino composing Fantasies and Impromptu in 1980. Donald Martino ( May 16, 1931 – December 8, 2005) was a Pulitzer Prize winning American Composer. Year 1980 ( MCMLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar)
• One of Queen's compositions, performed at Wembley Stadium in 1986 is named Impromptu. Queen were an English rock band formed in 1970 in London by guitarist original Wembley Stadium was a football Stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the

References

• New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians

Notes

1. ^ Journeau's works

The Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians is an Encyclopedic dictionary of music and musicians

© 2009 citizendia.org; parts available under the terms of GNU Free Documentation License, from http://en.wikipedia.org
Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic