Schubert made reference to the second set of impromptus in a letter to his publisher, indicating that they were to be performed separately or as a whole. However, Schumann had a reason for suspecting that they were originally meant as a piano sonata. The emotional and dramatic scope of the work, the harmony and tempo relationships between the movements, and the structure of the set, all seem to support such a conclusion. Whether that was the original intention or not, these pieces display the genius of Schubert at its most potent, both as a lyricist and as an architect.
The lyrical and innocent third Impromptu, a theme and variations in B-flat major, re-uses a theme that Schubert used twice before in different guises - once in the incidental music to the play Rosamunde, D. 797, and the second time in the String Quartet in A minor, D. 804. This beautiful theme is given five variations - at times rippling, playful, sparkling, poetic and even tragic, each one a prime example of Schubert's genius as a miniaturist. Inon Barnatan
Classical Music | Piano Music
Franz Schubert
Impromptu in B flat Major, D. 935, no. 3 Play
Recorded on 11/03/2010, uploaded on 04/13/2011
Musician's or Publisher's Notes
Schubert made reference to the second set of impromptus in a letter to his publisher, indicating that they were to be performed separately or as a whole. However, Schumann had a reason for suspecting that they were originally meant as a piano sonata. The emotional and dramatic scope of the work, the harmony and tempo relationships between the movements, and the structure of the set, all seem to support such a conclusion. Whether that was the original intention or not, these pieces display the genius of Schubert at its most potent, both as a lyricist and as an architect.
The lyrical and innocent third Impromptu, a theme and variations in B-flat major, re-uses a theme that Schubert used twice before in different guises - once in the incidental music to the play Rosamunde, D. 797, and the second time in the String Quartet in A minor, D. 804. This beautiful theme is given five variations - at times rippling, playful, sparkling, poetic and even tragic, each one a prime example of Schubert's genius as a miniaturist. Inon Barnatan
More music by Franz Schubert
Sonata in B-flat Major, D. 960, Op. post.
Sonata in B-flat Major, Op. 30, D617
Moment musicale in F minor Op.94 No.3
Introduction and Variations on a theme from Müllerlieder op. 25, Op. 160
Güte Nacht, Lieder for Flute and Piano
Frühlingsglaube (arr. Liszt)
Notturno
Erlkönig (arr. Liszt)
Rondo in A Major D438 for violin and string orchestra
Ave Maria
Performances by same musician(s)
Rondo Capriccioso, Op. 14
Sonata in e-flat minor, Op. 26
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