Kevin's Watch

www.essentialsofmusic.com/composer/schubert.html

Damelon introduced me to some of the works of Schubert (string quartets 13 & 14), which I found very moving (in fact, those two string quartets are among my favorite pieces of music in all the world.)

I also have Schubert's Ninth Symphony ("The Great") which is enjoyable, and one of his song cycles (Winterreise ), as well as his string quintet ("Trout").

Besides these pieces, I was hoping that people could give me further recommendations as to both pieces and specific recordings that they find particularly enjoyable and/or well done.

If you liked Winterreise, then I think you'll also enjoy his other song-cycle, Die schöne Müllerin.

Maybe you already mentioned it, but there's a very nice quartet called "Death and the Maiden".

I'd recommend checking out his other symphonies. The Unfinished 8th is wonderful! Also: Schubert was a pianist at heart, and even his orchestral music reflected this. I'd venture to say that his last three piano sonatas were worthy successors to Beethoven. Check out his impromptus for piano, as well.

All in all, Schubert is one of my favorites. He doesn't have the structural mastery of Beethoven or the clarity of style that Mozart had, but his music is perhaps the most "poetic". His masterful use of forward motion and impulsive melody imparts the mark of improvisation: fresh, vivid, spontaneous.

I especially love the two string quartets I have.

If anyone needs a recommendation:
String Quartets No. 13 in A Minor & No. 14 in D Minor "Death and the Maiden" by the Guarneri String Quartet

Thanks for the tips, Foul. I will look for his 8th Symphony and some of his piano sonatas next time I make it to the music store.

Much of Schubert is uncharted territory for me as well...but I do love his 2nd Symphony (especially for its lush, propulsive opening movement). I listened to a recording of it by Daniel Barenboim and the Berlin Philharmonic years ago, and I fell in love with the work instantly.

There is a new recording of Schubert's last piano sonata by Leif Ove Andsnes that you may want to check out. I don't have it, but I heard an excerpt from it on Gramophone magazine's monthly demo CD, and it was very soothing music. This Schubert recording was among Gramophone's picks of the ten most outstanding new releases of the month (April).

By the way, on a completely irrelevant note, does anyone else remember that SNL skit from way back that featured Garrett Morris singing some Schubert lieder? I think it was some parody of a commercial they were doing, but I've forgotten the details, heh. Imagine, my introduction to Schubert's music was on Saturday Night Live!

Hmm...and my introduction to Beethoven was "A Fifth of Beethoven" on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack!

Yeah, the Fifth Symphony's opening movement will forever be associated with disco dance floors and white polyester suits in my mind...

Try Schubert's last piano sonatas. My favorite is the second of the three D 959. This is a good recording

www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/ ... =classical

LOL!!!! That's exactly the same recording I picked up at Barnes & Noble yesterday!

Haven't had time to listen to it, yet, but now I'm looking even more forward to it.

My music appreciation teacher gave me that Brendel recording (well, let me burn it to my PC). I'd like to import an Arrau recording, though, but hey, Brendel will serve till then.

By the way: the Andante Sostenuto of Schubert's last sonata is my favorite piece of piano music, ever.

I was trying to find D959 this morning to listen to and found out I hadn't transfered it to my ipod.

Now I can't find the cd. Oh the frustration!

You'll enjoy the recording Duchess.

I'm sure that I will. You've never steered me wrong on a book or music recommendation yet (even though I got it before you recommended it ).

I also picked up a disc with Schubert's Fifth and Eighth Symphonies, and I'm looking forward to hearing those as well.