Franz Schubert:
Quintet for Piano, Violin, Viola, Cello and Double Bass in A Major, “The Trout”

If there are any readers of this regular slot who are a little wary of Chamber music, here’s the piece to introduce you to a marvellous genre of music. Schubert was a genius as a creator of songs and this piece is an interpretation of a song he composed, Die Forelle (The Trout) in 1817. He composed the A Major Quintet in 1819 when engaged to do so by Paumgartner. Schubert composed the work while holidaying with his friend Johann Vogl in Upper Austria. Perhaps we can picture the scene; glorious summer weather, fragrant pine forests, mountain air coupled with a rare bonus – it is said, the attentions of eight daughters of a local friend. No wonder he was cheerful in spirit! As you sit down and enjoy this happy piece of music, I am sure you will be able to picture that scene in Upper Austria nearly 200 years ago.

I experience an immediate lift with the pace of the first movement with its delightful and characteristic principal melody. It is followed by a slower movement which opens with the piano and a lovely melody in F major. The third movement, a scherzo and trio, is followed by the famous theme. The last movement is as delightful as the first and re-establishes the key of A major. The conclusion reminds us of the opening theme and the happy occasion when the piece was composed.

A closer look at Schubert’s work is essential for those of us who are most familiar with his masterful symphonies. In his boyhood he was most influenced by the music of Mozart but he looked up to Beethoven as the great master. In 1822 young Schubert dedicated a set of Variations to Beethoven. He wished to present them to the great man in person but was too shy to do so. He persuaded his publisher, Diabelli to accompany him. Beethoven was courteous but formal and was now totally deaf. He seemed pleased with the dedication and really liked the music and often played it to his nephew. Five years later, during his last illness, a collection of some sixty of Schubert’s songs was placed in Beethoven’s hands. He turned them over and over with sheer amazement and delight. “Truly Schubert has the divine fire”, he exclaimed and asked to meet the composer of such divine music. On a final visit to Beethoven’s bedside when suffering from his terminal illness, Schubert was overcome with emotion and two weeks later claimed the great privilege of being one of the torch-bearers at the great man’s funeral. Little was he to realise that, despite his own tender age of thirty, he would be soon to follow. It is hard to believe that the composer of this very special and happy piece of chamber music would pass away in the thirty-second year of his life. It was his wish to be buried near to Beethoven’s grave in the Wahringer Cemetrey near Vienna. What a remarkable musical heritage these two composers have left us!

Recommendations:

Schubert – Trout Quintet with the Amadeus Quartet and Emil Gilels, Piano. Deutsche Grammophon

Schubert – Trout Quintet with the Kodaly Quartet and Jeno Jando, Piano. Naxos

YouTube: F. Schubert – 1 Allegro Vivace (part 1), Matthias Kretzschme