Niels Wilhelm Gade (1817-1890) left to the musical world an extensive oeuvre of orchestral and chamber music works, works for organ and piano, lieder and chants as well as incidental music. His versatility as an instrumentalist, composer, conductor and director of the conservatoire made him the most important figure in the Danish musical scene of his time. 'Fantasiestücke' (Fantasiestykker) Op. 43 is among the most frequently played original works for clarinet and piano. Gade's compositions stand out due to his great mastery in instrumentation. The same applies to these four melodically and harmonically original 'Fantasiestücke'. The clarinet is treated like an instrument that can contribute a wide range of expressive means.
