Servais - Fantaisie sur La Folle (Urtext Edition, Piano Version)

Fantaisie sur La Folle is an early work by François Servais (1807–1866), closely related to Fantaisie brillante, intitulée concertino, an early version of Souvenir de la Suisse. The romance La Folle by Albert Grisar (1808–1869) was first published in late 1834, and numerous variation sets on the song appeared in 1835 and 1836. Servais likely composed his own variation set around the same time.

The Fantaisie opens with a short tutti section, followed by a simple statement of the head motive that leads into the solo theme. This motive does not return in the theme or variations. The theme begins at “Ah! oui, je me souviens,” and is followed by three numbered variations, each separated by tutti passages. A song-like fourth variation serves almost as a slow movement, while the finale unfolds in three parts: a transition, a fifth variation in march style, and a coda. The coda is nearly identical to the ending of Fantaisie brillante.

This edition is based on the manuscript cello solo part in the hand of Ulysse Claes, MS 45.106 (5), housed at the Brussels Conservatory Library. The piano part is not extant, and has been reconstructed for this edition. An orchestration for string quintet has also been prepared, occasionally drawing on related material from Fantaisie brillante. The sources were graciously provided by the Servais Society.

This is the first edition of Fantaisie sur La Folle.

ASTA Level: 6