Classics Explained: SCHUBERT - Piano Quintet in A Major, 'Trout' (Siepmann)

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An Introduction to...SCHUBERT: Piano Quintet "Trout" (more info)
Composed by: Franz Schubert
Jeremy Siepmann, narrator


1.   Introduction, origins - 1:39
2.   Imagery, analogy and the shape of the things to come; the opening flourish - 1:50
3.   The unusual presence of the double-bass - 0:54
4.   A palette of tone colours and the emergence of a theme - 0:47
5.   Trouble getting off the ground, but the key is not in doubt. - 0:49
6.   Jumping the queue: Schubert takes a lesson from Mozart. - 1:33
7.   Mozart demonstrates a traditional transition. - 0:33
8.   Destination clarified - 0:07
9.   Mozart confirms our arrival. - 0:08
10.   A Schubertian shocker from a later work - 0:52
11.   Rejoining the 'Trout', with a reminder - 0:27
12.   The piano joins the strings with yet a third variant of the theme. - 0:31
13.   A rhythmic motto: the 'triplet motif' - 1:26
14.   We get it here. - 0:17
15.   We get it there. - 0:17
16.   We find it everywhere, even in the double-bass. - 0:27
17.   The strings' answer to the piano's opening flourish - 0:36
18.   The two-part structure of the 'answering motif'... - 0:24
19.   ...but scarcely ever the same way twice - 0:34
20.   The piano and strings now share the material for the first time. - 0:42
21.   Conversation as the first principle of chamber music - 0:43
22.   Opening (introductory) section heard complete - 1:01
23.   The violin and double-bass in partnership - 1:16
24.   The violin and piano swap roles. - 0:59
25.   Transition to second main theme; triplets now everywhere - 1:12
26.   On the threshold of the new theme - 0:30
27.   Second main theme (a 'love duet'), shared by cello and viola - 1:24
28.   The abandonment of octaves in the piano changes the tone colour. - 1:07
29.   A surprising change of tone and a premonition - 0:39
30.   A return to lyricism, but the cello jumps the gun - 0:37
31.   A buoyant, skipping new theme is given to the solo piano. - 0:36
32.   Re-entry of the strings as the violin takes up the new theme - 0:25
33.   A transitional theme, and another Schubertian key-jump - 1:33
34.   We sense the imminent arrival of the closing theme. - 1:31
35.   A sudden, hushed key-change introduces part two of the closing theme. - 0:40
36.   The exposition comes to an end. - 0:32
37.   Cue to complete exposition - 0:06
38.   Music: exposition complete - 4:09
39.   Introduction to the development; the genetic code of 'key' - 7:20
40.   The contrasting aural properties of piano and violin - 1:03
41.   The ponderous double-bass is featured in the first main theme - 0:49
42.   The strings are liberated from servitude, but are a long way from home. - 0:42
43.   A joyful conversation and a change of pace in the piano - 1:06
44.   The piano takes the melodic lead again. - 0:31
45.   A conversation between violin and piano leads to the exposition... - 1:20
46.   ...but Schubert gets it 'wrong'. - 1:35
47.   Music: first movement (complete) - 9:09
48.   Introduction to second movement - 1:53
49.   The violin now takes theme one. - 0:29
50.   The piano regains the theme. - 0:42
51.   The violin and piano round off first section with the new 'closing' theme. - 0:35
52.   A major change of tone: a passing cloud and a dark new key - 1:19
53.   The piano abandons its octaves, but not its triplets, in the new 'Hungarian' theme. - 1:28
54.   The sun returns with a new theme, in two contrasting parts. - 1:21
55.   An evaporating dialogue between violin and piano - 0:58
56.   A major mood change as twilight falls - 1:12
57.   Cue to whole movement - 0:33
58.   Music: second movement (complete) - 7:30

An Introduction to...SCHUBERT: Piano Quintet "Trout" (more info)
Composed by: Franz Schubert
Jeremy Siepmann, narrator


1.   Introduction to the Scherzo - and a clear four-bar phrase... - 1:37
2.   ...'answered' by two two-bar phrases - 0:21
3.   A disconcerting 'echo' - 1:02
4.   Expectation, frustration and surprise - 0:27
5.   The phrase length exands from nine to fourteen bars - 0:36
6.   The beginning of the second half... - 1:07
7.   ...or should it go from G minor to D major? - 0:08
8.   Doubts are sown as the tonality becomes elusive. - 0:48
9.   A varied reprise of part one, and the end of the Scherzo proper - 0:33
10.   A conversational start to the Trio section - 0:40
11.   Another Schubertian phrase extension - 0:25
12.   Two overlapping phrases add up to a single theme. - 0:22
13.   The piano adds a third phrase to the overlap. - 0:32
14.   The overlaps continue as the key drifts downwads - 0:36
15.   Another Schubertian key-jump, now to B flat - 0:45
16.   A dramatic transformation of mood - 0:52
17.   Awakening from a dream: the main theme's return - 0:51
18.   Cue to complete Scherzo - 0:11
19.   Music: third movement (complete) - 3:52
20.   Enter the trout, at last; a meeting with the original - 0:30
21.   Music: 'Die Forelle' - 1:59
22.   Back to the Quintet: the strings, headed by the violin, introduce the theme. - 1:24
23.   The first variation - 1:41
24.   The second variation - 1:14
25.   The third variation - 1:20
26.   The fourth variation, part one - 1:33
27.   The fourth variation, part two - 0:57
28.   The fifth variation - 2:45
29.   The final variation, part one: violin and piano alone introduce the theme - 0:31
30.   The final variation, part two: the cello takes the tune. - 0:25
31.   The final variation, part three: piano and violin return as a duo... - 0:25
32.   The final variation, part four: ...as do the viola and cello. - 0:17
33.   The final variation, part five: the entire ensemble is reunited. - 0:39
34.   Music: fourth movement (complete) - 7:09
35.   Introduction to the finale: Schubert as wizard of repetition - 2:17
36.   Easily overlooked: the accompaniment from cello and double-bass - 0:36
37.   Contrasts of timbre and register - 0:59
38.   A repetition, and yet not a repetition - 0:07
39.   A journey begun; the phenomenon of musical gravity - 0:22
40.   The journey completed - 0:16
41.   The source of musical gravity - 0:22
42.   Music: saint-saens - The Carnival of the Animals 'The Pianists' - 0:28
43.   A scale of shifting tensions - 0:49
44.   Music: Beethoven, Symphony No. 1 (Finale) - 0:37
45.   Back to Schubert - 0:39
46.   The piano embellishes a scalewise descent. - 0:18
47.   A retrospective moment - 0:33
48.   Repetition more apparent then real - 1:02
49.   A taste of phrase rhythm - 1:26
50.   Shifting patterns of accentuation - 0:27
51.   The section reviewed - 0:15
52.   An increasingly sophisticated texture as parts interact - 0:46
53.   More phrase rhythm - 0:29
54.   A repetition from the strings... - 0:11
55.   ...and an answer from the piano - 0:13
56.   In transition to the secondary key - 0:51
57.   The origin of the second theme - 0:19
58.   The second main theme - 0:38
59.   The closing section begins, with a question answered. - 0:42
60.   The question repeated, a slightly differnet answer - 0:28
61.   First theme of closing section reviewed - 0:59
62.   Remembrance of things past - 0:28
63.   The piano and strings argue over the harmony. - 1:13
64.   Emergence of the final theme - 0:24
65.   An unexpected thunderstorm - 0:51
66.   The sound of silence - 1:29
67.   Cue to complete Finale - 1:00
68.   Music: Finale (Complete) - 6:47

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