'Rosamunde' - D797

[haydnguy]

The Rosamunde incidental music Op. 26 (D. 797) was composed by Franz Schubert for an 1823 play by Helmina von Chézy. The full name of that play was Rosamunde, Fürstin von Zypern ("Rosamunde, Princess of Cyprus"). Schubert's music is scored for soprano, chorus, and orchestra. The play, it seems, was a failure and has been permanently lost, but the music remains (rescued in 1867 by George Grove and Arthur Sullivan), and some of its excerpts remain among Schubert's most famous pieces.

Excerpts from the Rosamunde music are frequently played, but the complete score, lasting a full hour, is seldom heard. It has been recorded several times, notably by Kurt Masur and Claudio Abbado.

Ballet music no. 1, really two pieces in one. The first is a march in B minor (allegro moderato) beginning with a modified version of the opening theme of the first entr'acte. Like the entr'acte, this ends in B major. A bridge passage leads to a lyrical piece in G major bearing the rather puzzling tempo marking of andante un poco assai.

Ballet no. 2, the other favorite, an andantino in G major.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rx0y5CdheDg"]YouTube - Ballet Musik aus "Rosamunde"[/ame]