Classics Explained: Schubert - Piano Quintet in A Major, 'Trout' - CD

CD - 1

Franz Schubert

An Introduction to … SCHUBERT: Piano Quintet "Trout" (1819)

 

1. Introduction, origins

00:01:39

 

2. Imagery, analogy and the shape of the things to come; the opening flourish

00:01:50

 

3. The unusual presence of the double-bass

00:00:54

 

4. A palette of tone colours and the emergence of a theme

00:00:47

 

5. Trouble getting off the ground, but the key is not in doubt.

00:00:49

 

6. Jumping the queue: Schubert takes a lesson from Mozart.

00:01:33

 

7. Mozart demonstrates a traditional transition.

00:00:33

 

8. Destination clarified

00:00:07

 

9. Mozart confirms our arrival.

00:00:08

 

10. A Schubertian shocker from a later work

00:00:52

 

11. Rejoining the 'Trout', with a reminder

00:00:27

 

12. The piano joins the strings with yet a third variant of the theme.

00:00:31

 

13. A rhythmic motto: the 'triplet motif'

00:01:26

 

14. We get it here.

00:00:17

 

15. We get it there.

00:00:17

 

16. We find it everywhere, even in the double-bass.

00:00:27

 

17. The strings' answer to the piano's opening flourish

00:00:36

 

18. The two-part structure of the 'answering motif'...

00:00:24

 

19. ...but scarcely ever the same way twice

00:00:34

 

20. The piano and strings now share the material for the first time.

00:00:42

 

21. Conversation as the first principle of chamber music

00:00:43

 

22. Opening (introductory) section heard complete

00:01:01

 

23. The violin and double-bass in partnership

00:01:16

 

24. The violin and piano swap roles.

00:00:59

 

25. Transition to second main theme; triplets now everywhere

00:01:12

 

26. On the threshold of the new theme

00:00:30

 

27. Second main theme (a 'love duet'), shared by cello and viola

00:01:24

 

28. The abandonment of octaves in the piano changes the tone colour.

00:01:07

 

29. A surprising change of tone and a premonition

00:00:39

 

30. A return to lyricism, but the cello jumps the gun

00:00:37

 

31. A buoyant, skipping new theme is given to the solo piano.

00:00:36

 

32. Re-entry of the strings as the violin takes up the new theme

00:00:25

 

33. A transitional theme, and another Schubertian key-jump

00:01:33

 

34. We sense the imminent arrival of the closing theme.

00:01:31

 

35. A sudden, hushed key-change introduces part two of the closing theme.

00:00:40

 

36. The exposition comes to an end.

00:00:32

 

37. Cue to complete exposition

00:00:06

 

38. Music: exposition complete

00:04:09

 

39. Introduction to the development; the genetic code of 'key'

00:07:20

 

40. The contrasting aural properties of piano and violin

00:01:03

 

41. The ponderous double-bass is featured in the first main theme

00:00:49

 

42. The strings are liberated from servitude, but are a long way from home.

00:00:42

 

43. A joyful conversation and a change of pace in the piano

00:01:06

 

44. The piano takes the melodic lead again.

00:00:31

 

45. A conversation between violin and piano leads to the exposition...

00:01:20

 

46. ...but Schubert gets it 'wrong'.

00:01:35

 

47. Music: first movement (complete)

00:09:09

 

48. Introduction to second movement

00:01:53

 

49. The violin now takes theme one.

00:00:29

 

50. The piano regains the theme.

00:00:42

 

51. The violin and piano round off first section with the new 'closing' theme.

00:00:35

 

52. A Major change of tone: a passing cloud and a dark new key

00:01:19

 

53. The piano abandons its octaves, but not its triplets, in the new 'Hungarian' theme.

00:01:28

 

54. The sun returns with a new theme, in two contrasting parts.

00:01:21

 

55. An evaporating dialogue between violin and piano

00:00:58

 

56. A Major mood change as twilight falls

00:01:12

 

57. Cue to whole movement

00:00:33

 

58. Music: second movement (complete)

00:07:30

CD - 2

Franz Schubert

An Introduction to … SCHUBERT: Piano Quintet "Trout" (1819)

 

1. Introduction to the Scherzo - and a clear four-bar phrase...

00:01:37

 

2. ...'answered' by two two-bar phrases

00:00:21

 

3. A disconcerting 'echo'

00:01:02

 

4. Expectation, frustration and surprise

00:00:27

 

5. The phrase length exands from nine to fourteen bars

00:00:36

 

6. The beginning of the second half...

00:01:07

 

7. ...or should it go from G Minor to D Major?

00:00:08

 

8. Doubts are sown as the tonality becomes elusive.

00:00:48

 

9. A varied reprise of part one, and the end of the Scherzo proper

00:00:33

 

10. A conversational start to the Trio section

00:00:40

 

11. Another Schubertian phrase extension

00:00:25

 

12. Two overlapping phrases add up to a single theme.

00:00:22

 

13. The piano adds a third phrase to the overlap.

00:00:32

 

14. The overlaps continue as the key drifts downwads

00:00:36

 

15. Another Schubertian key-jump, now to B flat

00:00:45

 

16. A dramatic transformation of mood

00:00:52

 

17. Awakening from a dream: the main theme's return

00:00:51

 

18. Cue to complete Scherzo

00:00:11

 

19. Music: third movement (complete)

00:03:52

 

20. Enter the trout, at last; a meeting with the original

00:00:30

 

21. Music: 'Die Forelle'

00:01:59

 

22. Back to the Quintet: the strings, headed by the violin, introduce the theme.

00:01:24

 

23. The first variation

00:01:41

 

24. The second variation

00:01:14

 

25. The third variation

00:01:20

 

26. The fourth variation, part one

00:01:33

 

27. The fourth variation, part two

00:00:57

 

28. The fifth variation

00:02:45

 

29. The final variation, part one: violin and piano alone introduce the theme

00:00:31

 

30. The final variation, part two: the cello takes the tune.

00:00:25

 

31. The final variation, part three: piano and violin return as a duo...

00:00:25

 

32. The final variation, part four: ...as do the viola and cello.

00:00:17

 

33. The final variation, part five: the entire ensemble is reunited.

00:00:39

 

34. Music: fourth movement (complete)

00:07:09

 

35. Introduction to the finale: Schubert as wizard of repetition

00:02:17

 

36. Easily overlooked: the accompaniment from cello and double-bass

00:00:36

 

37. Contrasts of timbre and register

00:00:59

 

38. A repetition, and yet not a repetition

00:00:07

 

39. A journey begun; the phenomenon of musical gravity

00:00:22

 

40. The journey completed

00:00:16

 

41. The source of musical gravity

00:00:22

 

42. Music: saint-saens - The Carnival of the Animals 'The Pianists'

00:00:28

 

43. A scale of shifting tensions

00:00:49

 

44. Music: Beethoven, Symphony No. 1 (Finale)

00:00:37

 

45. Back to Schubert

00:00:39

 

46. The piano embellishes a scalewise descent.

00:00:18

 

47. A retrospective moment

00:00:33

 

48. Repetition more apparent then real

00:01:02

 

49. A taste of phrase rhythm

00:01:26

 

50. Shifting patterns of accentuation

00:00:27

 

51. The section reviewed

00:00:15

 

52. An increasingly sophisticated texture as parts interact

00:00:46

 

53. More phrase rhythm

00:00:29

 

54. A repetition from the strings...

00:00:11

 

55. ...and an answer from the piano

00:00:13

 

56. In transition to the secondary key

00:00:51

 

57. The origin of the second theme

00:00:19

 

58. The second main theme

00:00:38

 

59. The closing section begins, with a question answered.

00:00:42

 

60. The question repeated, a slightly differnet answer

00:00:28

 

61. First theme of closing section reviewed

00:00:59

 

62. Remembrance of things past

00:00:28

 

63. The piano and strings argue over the harmony.

00:01:13

 

64. Emergence of the final theme

00:00:24

 

65. An unexpected thunderstorm

00:00:51

 

66. The sound of silence

00:01:29

 

67. Cue to complete Finale

00:01:00

 

68. Music: Finale (Complete)

00:06:47