What's Your Favorite Schubert Piece?
John GibbonsSince today is the birthday of Franz Schubert, John and Bonnie Gibbons are sharing their favorite Schubert moments. It’s no surprise that both selections come from the musically magical last years of Schubert’s too-short life, 1827-1828.
John’s Selection:
John chooses the trio from the Scherzo movement of the String Quintet in C Major (D. 956, Op. posth 163), colloquially known as the “string quintet” to distinguish it from the composer’s “Trout” quintet (which includes piano). This quintet calls for two violins, one viola and two cellos. The video below includes the entire third movement. John’s moment begins around 4:02.
(Not seeing the video? Click here.)
Performed by: Susanna Yoko Henkel - violin, Stefan Milenkovich - violin, Guy Ben-Ziony - viola, Giovanni Sollima - cello, Monika Leskovar - cello
Bonnie’s Selection:
“Gute Nacht,” the opening song from the cycle “Die Winterreise” (D. 911, published as op. 89 in 1827)
Bonnie notes: “I first heard this song on day one of college music theory. At some point I forgot why it was discussed that day, but I never forgot the song. When I started singing about 12 years after college, it was the first thing I pulled off the shelf.”
Of the many great recordings of “Winterreise” available, this one with Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (accompanied by Alfred Brendel, no less) has a handy German-English translation, thanks to YouTuber Antiteilchennummer.
Not seeing the video? Click here.
Reader Comments (7)
My favorite piece by Schubert is his song "An die Musik" (D547). Composed in March 1817 for solo voice and piano, with text from a poem by his friend Franz von Schober.
A hymn to the art of music, it is one of the best-known songs by Schubert. I find it moves me deeply and I never tire of its' harmonic simplicity and sweeping melody.
Hi
Can you comment on the use of the extra cello in the quintet? Does it double the viola or other cello depending on whether Schubert wanted the bass or tenor louder or is it used to create 5 independent voices?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fieLpth3PMA&feature=related
One of myFavorite Schubert pieces is the slow movement to the Bb piano sonata. (see above link). BTW, what is a barcarolle?
Thanks
James - thanks for giving me a chance to highlight the reason this web site is named Holde Kunst.
"Du Holde Kunst" is the first line of the song you love. It means something like "gracious art." The complete words are here:
http://holdekunst.com/holde-kunst-faq/about-our-website/what-does-holde-kunst-mean.html
Try that link again:
a href="http://holdekunst.com/holde-kunst-faq/about-our-website/what-does-holde-kunst-mean.html">Words to An Die Musik
Ken D - I grew up playing cello and played the quintet several times as first or second cellist. The answer is all three. The first cello weaves seamlessly between backing up the viola, leading the second cello, and functioning independently.
My favorite piece / moment: the last three piano sonatas. The three go together and are one long wonderful moment.
I was going to say the last 3 piano sonatas since I've been playing them all weekend. I had no idea that Schubert was born on the 31st of Jan. I haven't played through them in years, and suddenly I pick them up on his birthday. How serendipitous. Here's to new favorites, and I'll second the vote for the last 3 piano sonatas!