Classical Music | Music for Flute

Franz Schubert

Introduction and Variation on the theme Trockne Blumen Play Play

Colleen Matheu	Flute
Natasha Mah	Piano

Recorded on 05/10/2005, uploaded on 01/11/2009

Musician's or Publisher's Notes

Only a few short months after completing his song cycle Die schöne Mullerin, Schubert revisited the 18^th song of the set, "Trockne Blumen" ("Withered Flowers"), and used it as the basis for a theme and variations. The resulting work was the only piece Schubert composed for solo flute and piano.

Schubert precedes the Lied melody with a rather lengthy Adagio introduction. It begins with mysterious chords in E minor over Schubert's favorite dactylic rhythm in the bass. Once the tonality of E is established, the introduction becomes rather tonally adventurous, passing through A minor, G minor and even a remote E-flat major. However, Schubert's genius shines through in a remarkable tonal sidestep which brings about the return of the tonic key via B major.

Once the introduction comes to a close on a half cadence, the Lied melody is presented almost literally. Though it retains the same harmonic and tonal framework as the original, the Lied's emotional substance is not found in the flashy variations that follow. The first five variations hold regularly to the rhythmic and harmonic structure of the melody and mainly embellish, by various means, the Lied's melody and harmony. Variation 6 changes to triple meter and expands the theme by presenting its first strain as a canon in the third between the right hand of the piano and the solo flute. The remaining portion of the variation, though not strictly in canon, does maintain an imitative character. The seventh and final variation changes to common time, quickens the tempo to an Allegro and presents the Lied melody as a triumphant march. Here, too, the theme is expanded to include a coda. Returning briefly to the tonal wanderings of the introduction, a triumphant conclusion with brilliant scale passages and majestic chords is reached in E major. Joseph DuBose

Introduction and Variations on the theme Trockne Blumen Franz Schubert

This is the only work composed by Schubert for flute and piano. It was written for Viennese flutist Ferdinand Bogner in January 1824. As indicated by the title, the work is based on and employs in almost unaltered form the eighteenth century song. The work alternates between the keys of e minor and E Major. The theme and a set of seven variations follow a 37-measure prelude, with the music conceived on a grand scale. The writing for flute, especially in the final variation, gives a full display of the instrument's technical brilliance. Indeed the technical demands made on the performer must have almost exceeded the potential of the instrument as it existed in Schubert's day. Colleen Matheu