Fantasy in C Major, “Wanderer,” D. 760

Composer: SCHUBERT, Franz
  • In 1822, Schubert wrote his Fantasy in C Major, “Wanderer,” for solo piano. The piano fantasy consists of four movements that flow seamlessly from one to the next:
    1. Allegro con fuoco ma non troppo
    2. Adagio
    3. Presto
    4. Allegro1
  • Listen for – a musical quote from Schubert’s Lied, “Der Wanderer,” in the second movement (hence the work’s nickname).2
    • Fun fact – Franz Liszt was responsible for first assigning this “Wanderer” nickname to the work. Liszt also arranged a version of the work for piano and orchestra.
  • Fantasy in C Major is incredibly technically demanding for the pianist. According to one of Schubert’s biographers, this fantasy was the only work the composer felt he couldn’t master. While playing the piece for a close circle of friends, Schubert got stuck on the final movement and subsequently shouted, “The Devil should play this stuff.”3

Sources

  1. “Fantasie in C major, D.760 (Schubert, Franz),” IMSLP, accessed October 10, 2025, https://imslp.org/wiki/Fantasie_in_C_major,_D.760_(Schubert,_Franz).
  2. Ernst Herttrich, “Preface: Fantasy C major op. 15 D 760 (Wandererfantasie),” G. Henle Verlag, accessed October 10, 2025, https://www.henle.de/en/Fantasy-C-major-op.-15-D-760-Wandererfantasie/HN-282.
  3. Walther Dürr, “Preface: Fantasy for Piano in C major op. 15 D 760 ‘Wanderer Fantasy,'” Bärenreiter, accessed October 10, 2025, https://www.baerenreiter.com/en/product/BA10870?srsltid=AfmBOoo2hR9KQwHSmhBHAXffymMPBWnGudbPF6nORWwxGRjJIrK0gS6Z.

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