fantasia

fantasia Definition

fan·ta·sia (fan tā′z̸hə, -zē ə; fant′ə zē′ə)

noun

1. any of a number of predominantly improvisational musical compositions, with a structure determined by the composer's fancy
2. a literary work similarly constructed
a medley of familiar tunes

Etymology: It < L phantasia: see fantasy

fantasia Synonyms

rhapsody, musical fantasy, capriccio, roulade, fantastical air, capricious composition.

fantasia Usage Examples

Converse of object

base: It is essentially a sequence of four short fantasias based on West Country folk tunes.

Adjective modifier

instrumental: O sacrum convivium appears to have its origins as an instrumental fantasia and then to have been re-written as a vocal piece.
4-part: An early Coprario 4-part fantasia will demonstrate that he borrowed motives directly from a Ferrabosco madrigal.
musical: The haphazard cylinders he substituted displayed a musical fantasia.

Noun used with modifier

string: Fantasia of Four Parts, the final movement takes its title from the string fantasias of English composers such as Gibbons and Purcell.

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