Schubert

[Florestan]

PS, as for Pygmalion, I know bugger all and the main reason for this site is to make welcome and encourage people who want to learn more about classical music (and feel that they have much to learn).

So don't feel like Eliza Doolittle! I bet you know more than I do - and you're a musician.

[Aiantas]

Originally Posted by maureen

what was meant when you said he writes songs even when he wasn't writing songs?

Although Schubert is remembered for his 'song cycles' (collections of songs usually settings of poetry by one poet) he did write a huge amount of other music too; 9 symphonies, several Masses and a whole lot of chamber music. However he always thinks and writes in terms of 'vocal' music. In his instrumental music you can nearly hear the words he was singing as he wrote. While playing Schubert it's always a good idea to sing the melodies (and even make up words) to help with phrasing. That's what is meant by writing songs even when he isn't writing songs. Have a listen to some of Mendelssohn's 'Songs Without Words'. He wrote 8 volumes of these. That's one way to get out of paying a lyricist!

[haydnguy]

I was just reading about how some of Mahler's song cycles were very Schubert-esque in tone. I'll post more about that.

[maureen]

i didn't notice responses on this thread previously
thanks flor and aiantas for the explanation
i am not a musician and i do get lost when you musicians talk about different things, structural aspects of the music etc.
however i am very curious and one of those global learners
the more i know about something the more i understand
your explanations totally helped me...man

[haydnguy]

I was going to post a "Schubert: Where Do I Start" thread but perhaps I could post it here. Any recommended pieces to start with???

Thanks.

[Despina41]

Originally Posted by haydnguy

I was going to post a "Schubert: Where Do I Start" thread but perhaps I could post it here. Any recommended pieces to start with???

Thanks.

Oh, songs are good, since, I suppose, that is what Schubert is best known for. The most famous ones are Die Erlkoenig, Heidenroeslein, Gretchen am Spinnrade, Der Tod und das Maedchen, An Silvia, Die Forelle -- you all can add what I've forgotten..
Song cycles: Die Schoene Muellerin, Winterreise, and the powerful, late Schwanengesang.

The piano sonatas are pretty nice, but I'll let other people handle that...

For the chamber music, I have a nice little 2-CD set of the complete chamber music with piano, including the famous Trout Quintet and a couple of piano trios (the Bb-major trio has a slow movement that was used in Kubrick's Barry Lyndon). Something along those lines would be a nice start. And don't forget the famous string quartet based on his song "Der Tod und das Maedchen." That's a good one!

OH YEAH! - AND - his 9th smphony is one of the best symphonies EVER (IMHO ). It's nicknamed "the Great" for a good reason. The 8th is the unfinished one, famously used in the opening credits of the Smurfs cartoon, she said with a straight face.*


So I hope that gives you a couple of points for diving into Schubert. He wrote a lot of music in his short lifetime, with his short stature (I always take comfort in knowing that I am, at least in terms of height, in the company of great geniuses). I have seen his little glasses in the Schuberthaus in Vienna. Very cute.







*those opening credits also used the main motive of Liszt's 1st piano concerto for Gargamel's theme music.

[Despina41]

Originally Posted by Despina41

I have seen his little glasses in the Schuberthaus in Vienna. Very cute.

[Philidor]

* Stolen shamelessly for my avatar album *

[Florestan]

Today we got some top CD bargains in a second hand shop in Hampstead, among them (speaking of Schubert):

Die Schone Mullerin and various lieder - Dietrich Fischer Dieskau; Jorg Demus/Gerald Moore, piano.

And

14 Schubert lieder and Schumann's Dichterliebe, Peter Pears with Benjamin Britten on piano.

Both have my favourite - Nacht und Traume. Ooh, and the DFD disc has Erlkoenig too.

We also got 2 double CD boxed sets of Harnoncourt Bach cantatas; Mahler 6 plus Ruckertlieder; and a double CD of Christopher Hogwood (various baroque composers) - all for 7 quid. :smug:

[Philidor]

Originally Posted by Florestan

and a double CD of Christopher Hogwood (various baroque composers)

I'm especially pleased with that. Recordings from the L'Oiseau Lyre label going back to 1973 when the HIP movement was peopled by wild young men with glasses made from twigs and women with dresses manufactured from old curtains.