Choral Fantasy c minor op. 80

Combining a piano concerto and a cantata in one work is an undertaking that requires true mastery. Ludwig van Beethoven succeeded in this with his “Fantasy for piano, chorus and orchestra” in C minor op. 80, composed in 1808. Since the melody of the “Ode to Joy” from the finale of his Ninth Symphony can be heard here “in ovo”, the Choral Fantasy is also referred to as the “Little Ninth”.

This score edition of the work is supplemented in our handy study edition by “Meeresstille und glückliche Fahrt” (“Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage”) op. 112 and other short works for chorus and orchestra (opp. 118, 121b, 122, WoO 95). This edition, in the quality one expects of an Urtext, offers the full musical text of the Beethoven Complete Edition.