Fantasia No. 3 in E minor, TWV 40:28
- Master E minor's melancholic and pastoral character
- Execute lyrical, singing passages with deep expression
- Develop sophisticated ornamentation and rhetoric
- Navigate wide intervallic leaps with grace
About This Piece
Composer: Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767)
Difficulty: Advanced
Notes Used: Full chromatic range from E4 to G6
Key: E minor (1 sharp: F#)
Movements: I. Largo - II. Allegro - III. Grave - IV. Vivace
I. Largo - Melancholic Opening
Deeply expressive with rich ornamentation. Tempo: ♩ = 42-48
Musical-rhetorical devices: suspensions, appoggiaturas, sighs.
II. Allegro - Energetic Contrast
Lively sixteenth-note patterns. Tempo: ♩ = 108-120
III. Grave - Chromatic Depth
Rich chromaticism and modulations. Tempo: ♩ = 40-45
IV. Vivace - Brilliant Finale
Joyful gigue character transforming E minor affect. Tempo: ♩ = 120-132
Technical Exercises
Master both minor scale forms.
Secure intonation across large leaps.
Ornamentation and Rhetoric
- Suspensions: Lean into dissonances, resolve gently
- Appoggiaturas: Essential for expressive intensity in Largo and Grave
- Trills: Extensive in slow movements; start on upper note
- Sighs (Seufzer): Two-note descending figures - slight emphasis on first note
- Portamento: Subtle slides for expressive moments
Performance Practice
E minor's affect in Baroque theory: pensive, melancholic, yet with potential for pastoral sweetness. Telemann exploits this duality, contrasting deeply expressive slow movements with energetic fast movements. The Largo and Grave demand intense emotional expression - study Baroque rhetoric and affective theory. Allow generous rubato in slow movements while maintaining metric clarity in fast movements.
Performance Goal: This fantasia showcases your expressive maturity alongside technical prowess. Slow movements should move listeners emotionally; fast movements should dazzle technically. The contrast between movements creates dramatic arc. Perform with complete commitment to the affect of each movement.
Practice Strategy
- Study Baroque affect theory and musical rhetoric
- Sing slow movements to internalize phrasing
- Practice each movement in isolation before performing complete
- Record and evaluate emotional communication alongside technical accuracy
- Listen to historical performance practice recordings