Classical Music | Piano Music

Recorded on 02/28/2006, uploaded on 01/25/2009

Musician's or Publisher's Notes

Allegro in a-minor, 'Lebensstürme', D. 947        Franz Schubert  

Composed in May of 1828, Schubert's Allegro in a-minor was published by Diabelli some twelve years after the composer's death. The editor entitled the work 'Lebensstürme' ("life's storms") most probably for commercial reasons.  Although this may not have been exactly what Schubert had in mind whilst writing this tightly structured sonata form movement, it does seem apt for a highly dramatic work which is by turns violent, passionate, tragic and blissful. It has often been suggested that this was the first movement of a large-scale sonata that Schubert never completed, although the Allegro seems quite complete in itself.  The duet is dominated by sharp contrasts, the agitation and rhythmic energy of the first theme soon giving way to a meditative, chorale-like second theme in A-flat Major.      Tong, Hasegawa

Courtesy of International Music Foundation.