The ''Indian Fantasy'' ('), Op. 44 is a fantasy for

piano A piano is a keyboard instrument that produces sound when its keys are depressed, activating an Action (music), action mechanism where hammers strike String (music), strings. Modern pianos have a row of 88 black and white keys, tuned to a c ...

and

orchestra An orchestra (; ) is a large instrumental ensemble typical of classical music, which combines instruments from different families. There are typically four main sections of instruments: * String instruments, such as the violin, viola, cello, ...

Ferruccio Busoni Ferruccio Busoni (1 April 1866 – 27 July 1924) was an Italian composer, pianist, conductor, editor, writer, and teacher. His international career and reputation led him to work closely with many of the leading musicians, artists and literary ...

. Composed in 1913/14, it was first performed in Berlin in March 1914, with the composer as soloist.Anthony Beaumont, ''Busoni'', (1985), p. 190. The piece is based on several melodies and rhythms from various American Indian tribes; Busoni had received them from American ethnomusicologist Natalie Curtis Burlin. The fantasy describes the American

prairie Prairies are ecosystems considered part of the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome by ecologists, based on similar temperate climates, moderate rainfall, and a composition of grasses, herbs, and shrubs, rather than trees, as the ...

, and is in three movements: *Fantasy *Canzona *Finale

References

*Curtis, Natalie. "Busoni’s Indian Fantasy" in ''Southern Workman'' vol. 44, October 1915, pp/ 538-543 * Piano compositions by Ferruccio Busoni 1913 compositions Compositions for piano and orchestra Busoni Concertante works by Ferruccio Busoni {{concerto-stub