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Schubert

Piano Schubert

Paul Lewis and Schubert

The other night I traveled to Melbourne and attended an all Schubert concert by the wonderful pianist Paul Lewis. Paul is in the process of (I think) recording all of Schubert. My favorite piece in the concert was this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyJtzibykUw

At the end of the concert I got in the line to have CD’s signed. I said something to him like: ‘Hi Paul .. I’ve got a bunch of your Beethoven, and I just wanted to ask you; what do you feel Schubert brought to the table that his Master and guru, Beethoven, hadn’t done better already?’ I then said, ‘Something has happened to me in the past year that I never thought would happen … I’ve become a Beethoven freak’ – He said, “Really!” with a bit of intensity as though he found it very interesting! (he was quite personable and lovely)

Paul answered rapidly along the lines of how very different they were and at the end said, ‘Schubert is instinctive while Beethoven is logical.’ I thanked him and we shook hands. He had a firm handshake!

Hmmmm? I’ve been pondering the instinctive/logical bit, and don’t quite get it yet!


Schubert

A Wink and a Nudge from Schubert

In the past few weeks I’ve had two people tell me that Schubert was their favorite composer.

I can take a hint! Here’s some Schubert that isn’t already on the site. (for more Schubert go to: http://jimsclassicalmusic.com/?cat=44)

just darn pretty!

Arpeggione Sonata Adagio – 2nd movement

 

does he equal Haydn as a master of “playfulness”?

piano_sonata_in_a_major_d959_3._scherzo._allegro_vivace-oma


Piano Schubert Schubert: spirituality and inherent weirdness!

Schubert: spirituality and ‘inherent weirdness’!

Here’s what a music reviewer wrote about this late piano piece by Schubert:

I find it hard to account for the intensity of the spiritual response that the slow movements of late Beethoven and late Schubert produce in me…  the slow movement of D960, one of the last creations of a desperately ill 31-year-old-man who has lost his Catholic faith, is frightened out of his wits by the ordeal that lies ahead, and yet produces music of the most magical serenity.

Piano sonata #21  D960/ second movement

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And this second piece with its ‘inherent weirdness.’ It fascinates me how accu

rate, poetic and articulate some music critics can be!

In the great Andantino movement of the A major, the pianist is alive to its inherent weirdness as Schubert sends a nostalgically beautiful melody off the deep end to fragmentation, then reassembles it into a broken shadow of itself.

Piano sonata #20 in A major second movement

Schubert PS 20 second movement

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Beethoven Schubert

Schubert and Beethoven

Not enough Schubert on this site I think! Here’s a movement from his Octet. It’s interesting how it came about. A famous clarinetist asked Schubert to compose a work similar to Beethoven’s Septet Op. 20. (Schubert added a second violin)

Schubert and Beethoven: Arguably the two greatest composers of that time; and someone asks Schubert to do something similar to Beethoven! Schubert composed it in 1824. Beethoven died in 1827 so he only had 3 years to hear it. Wonder if he ever did?

Never mind … you get to hear a movement from each!

Schubert Octet 5th movement Menuetto Allegretto

Mullova Ensemble_Schubert Octet – Mullova Ensemble_05_Schubert Octet_ Menuetto_ Allegretto – Trio

 

Beethoven’s Septet second movement Adagio cantibile

Various Artists – Naxos_BEETHOVEN_ Chamber Music for Horns, Winds and Strings_02_Septet_ Adagio cantabile


Schubert

Schubert was missing but not anymore!

Thanks to a comment by Jess (see “Almost Perfect Music” on the right and look in comments) We now have some Schubert! It was quite an oversight on my part since I’ve plenty of his works; and the fact that Liszt said he was ‘the most poetic of them all’ (that’s how I remember the quote of Liszt’s on Schubert)

Passionate, poetic and emotionally stimulating me says!

Schubert’s Impromptu D 899 no. 3 Andante

 

from a famous series of songs, played here on guitar

Schwanengesang, D 957 no. 4 Standchen

 

Schubert’s piano sonata b-flat-major-d960 second movement


Almost? "Perfect Music"?! Bach Elgar Mascagni Schubert Shostakovich Very Special

Almost? “Perfect Music”?!

Great compositions sure to move the heart. But I’m a little reluctant to include them in the “Perfect Music” section! (*See Perfect Music on the right hand alphabetical panel*)

Cavalleria Rusticana – intermezzo by Pietro Mascagni

 

Shostakovich waltz from Jazz suite. Used in the movie “Eyes Wide Shut” with Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman

Shostakovich Waltz from Jazz Suite

 

And here is an absolutely delightful version by Andre Rieu.

Shostakovich Russian Waltz by Rieu

 

Bachs “Master and Commander”

Bach cello suite 1 bwv 1007

 

From Elgar’s enigma variations, op. 36 Nimrod

 

Now here is Schubert for Jess! Schubert’s 8th Symphony second movement (see comments)

Schubert’s 8th Symphony second movement