Musical Poetry and Lyricism

On this day in 1797, Franz Peter Schubert was born in Vienna, Austria. Schubert was almost 30 years younger than Beethoven, but the two were composing much of their music at the same time. Schubert died only one year after Beethoven, and just as he desired, was buried next to him. He idolized Beethoven during his lifetime, but never had the guts to approach during his lifetime.

Schubert's music to me sounds at times like Mozart (his fellow Austrian), and at times like Beethoven, but he definitely has his own "voice". Although I mostly just know his piano music and a little bit of his orchestral music, Schubert is also well known for his many "lieder" or songs, of which he wrote over 600. The great pianist-composer Franz Liszt said that Schubert was "the most poetic musician who has ever lived". I think as a result of his well-developed poetic abilities and skill in writing songs, much of his other music "sings" especially well. His piano pieces are full of delicacy and singing melodies. His music has a simplicity running throughout, which I think stems from his lyricism; however he has a dark, brooding, even violent side as well that can really grab you. I think Schubert in many ways was just as much of a genius as Mozart and Beethoven, and he doesn't get the attention due him.

Schubert's music requires expert control of touch and tone on the piano because of his delicate lyricism, as the following pieces will show. Impromptu in Gb Major, D. 899 No. 3 is a very serene piece with "triplet" accompaniment throughout, so typical of Schubert. The Impromptu in Eb major, D. 899 No. 2, in contrast, is much swifter and more forceful, full of sweeping triplet scales and surprising key-changes.

Sonata D. 959, 4th movement has a beautiful melody Schubert used in more than one piece. Notice again the lyricism and "triplet" accompaniment in a lot of the piece. Schubert's last three sonatas, D. 958, 959, and 960 are some of the greatest piano works ever written. They are quite long (D. 960's first movement alone can go longer than 20 minutes), full of innovation, have a wide range of emotions, and are chock-full of beautiful themes and sub-themes. Besides the one above, one of my favorite movements in these three sonatas is the 4th movement of D. 958 (the video is of the last half of the movement). In the words of someone commenting on the video, the piece displays Schubert's darker side - "furious, sarcastic, sophisticated - a black hole full of dark energy!" Yet there still is much lyricism and beauty throughout.

I don't know much of Schubert's orchestral music except his last 2 symphonies. The earlier symphonies, to me, sound like Mozart, and are quite conservative. Here is the Symphony #8, "Unfinished", 1st movement - I think this is his greatest symphony, just two movements, both perfect. It has a dark, sinister opening and melancholy theme, with beautiful melodies harmonies throughout. The best way to listen to this piece is to buy a good recording and to make sure your stereo system has a subwoofer - helps a lot because the opening melody is carried by the double-bass viols.

For an example of one of his "lieder", here is the Erlkoenig. A frightening tale by Goethe, it tells the story of a father riding on horseback with his young son during the night, when the son cries to his father that the "Erlking" or "Elf King" (modern translation - the "Boogey Man") is nearby and is going to harm him. The father doesn't take his son seriously - "don't worry it's just the wind", etc., and they go back and forth... until it's too late. The singer has the challenge of switching between being the narrator, the father, the son, and the Elf King. The piano accompaniment on this is horrendously difficult because of the stamina needed to play fast repeated octaves and chords in the right hand throughout - meant to evoke the fast hoof beats.

The next two represent his chamber music. The Piano Trio in Bb Major is one of my new favorites (I just got the CD for Christmas). It is full of sunshine and beautiful themes. And... yes more triplet accompaniment throughout. The "Trout" Quintet, 4th movement is one of his most famous pieces. I had to put up this video because there are so many famous musicians in the same place playing together! (Barenboim - piano, Perlman - vioin, Zukerman - viola, Du Pre - cello, and Mehta - bass) This movement has some motifs in it that supposedly sounds like a swimming fish, thus the name.