(It.; Fr. fantaisie; Ger. Phantasie). 1. An IMPROVISATION.

2. A POLYPHONIC instrumental piece in free imitation (17th and 18th centuries). These compositions for KEYBOARD instruments, LUTES, or VIOLS are marked by a free thematic development and many florid VARIATIONS.

3. A composition free in form and more or less fantastic in character. In the 19 th century, instrumental fantasies largely abandoned their contrapuntal character and became works in SONATA form. When LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN described his MOONLIGHT SONATA as a "Sonata quasi una fantasia," he apparently intended to convey to it the character of a romantic image, but it is set in strict sonata form. FRÉDÉRIC CHOPIN'S Fantaisie-Impromptu is organized in a symmetric TERNARY form.

4. A POTPOURRI or paraphrase.