Impromptu

: This article is about impromptu as a musical form/genre, for all other uses of impromptu: see Impromptu (disambiguation)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

An impromptu (meaning something like "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 Vořišek.

Related Topics:
1817 - Vořišek

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Schubert published two sets of four Impromptus. After his death 3 more unnamed piano compositions (Klavierstücke) were sometimes named Impromptus.
• Chopin composed 3 Impromptus, plus the Fantaisie-Impromptu.

The impromptu genre remained popular all throughout the 19th century.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Donald Martino composing Fantasies and Impromptu in 1980.
• One of Queen (band) compositions, performed at Wembley Stadium in 1986 is named Impromptu.
 
Impromptu: References ►