play pause radio-play skip-back skip-forward playing search copy check embed close plus caret-down caret-left caret-right caret-up chevron-down chevron-left chevron-right chevron-up arrow-left arrow-right open-in-new-tab filter menu more-horizontal more-vertical share share-android select star star-block volume-block volume-mute-block volume-mute volume lock settings recording composition devices laptop speaker
Log inCreate account

Introductory Talk

Jeremy Siepmann (Speaker)
℗ 2002
126 Tracks, 2:24:30

  • Jeremy Siepmann explains Piano Quintet in A Major, 'Trout' by Franz Schubert

    • Introduction, origins
      01:39
    • Imagery, analogy and the shape of the things to come; the opening flourish
      01:51
    • The unusual presence of the double-bass
      00:54
    • A palette of tone colours and the emergence of a theme
      00:47
    • Trouble getting off the ground, but the key is not in doubt.
      00:49
    • Jumping the queue: Schubert takes a lesson from Mozart.
      01:33
    • Mozart demonstrates a traditional transition.
      00:34
    • Destination clarified
      00:07
    • Mozart confirms our arrival.
      00:08
    • A Schubertian shocker from a later work
      00:53
    • Rejoining the 'Trout', with a reminder
      00:27
    • The piano joins the strings with yet a third variant of the theme.
      00:31
    • A rhythmic motto: the 'triplet motif'
      01:27
    • We get it here.
      00:17
    • We get it there.
      00:18
    • We find it everywhere, even in the double-bass.
      00:28
    • The strings' answer to the piano's opening flourish
      00:36
    • The two-part structure of the 'answering motif'...
      00:24
    • ...but scarcely ever the same way twice
      00:34
    • The piano and strings now share the material for the first time.
      00:42
    • Conversation as the first principle of chamber music
      00:44
    • Opening (introductory) section heard complete
      01:02
    • The violin and double-bass in partnership
      01:16
    • The violin and piano swap roles.
      01:00
    • Transition to second main theme; triplets now everywhere
      01:12
    • On the threshold of the new theme
      00:31
    • Second main theme (a 'love duet'), shared by cello and viola
      01:24
    • The abandonment of octaves in the piano changes the tone colour.
      01:08
    • A surprising change of tone and a premonition
      00:40
    • A return to lyricism, but the cello jumps the gun
      00:38
    • A buoyant, skipping new theme is given to the solo piano.
      00:36
    • Re-entry of the strings as the violin takes up the new theme
      00:26
    • A transitional theme, and another Schubertian key-jump
      01:34
    • We sense the imminent arrival of the closing theme.
      01:32
    • A sudden, hushed key-change introduces part two of the closing theme.
      00:41
    • The exposition comes to an end.
      00:32
    • Cue to complete exposition
      00:07
    • Music: exposition complete
      04:09
    • Introduction to the development; the genetic code of 'key'
      07:20
    • The contrasting aural properties of piano and violin
      01:03
    • The ponderous double-bass is featured in the first main theme
      00:49
    • The strings are liberated from servitude, but are a long way from home.
      00:43
    • A joyful conversation and a change of pace in the piano
      01:06
    • The piano takes the melodic lead again.
      00:32
    • A conversation between violin and piano leads to the exposition...
      01:21
    • ...but Schubert gets it 'wrong'.
      01:36
    • Music: first movement (complete)
      09:10
    • Introduction to second movement
      01:53
    • The violin now takes theme one.
      00:29
    • The piano regains the theme.
      00:43
    • The violin and piano round off first section with the new 'closing' theme.
      00:35
    • A Major change of tone: a passing cloud and a dark new key
      01:19
    • The piano abandons its octaves, but not its triplets, in the new 'Hungarian' theme.
      01:29
    • The sun returns with a new theme, in two contrasting parts.
      01:21
    • An evaporating dialogue between violin and piano
      00:59
    • A Major mood change as twilight falls
      01:12
    • Cue to whole movement
      00:33
    • Music: second movement (complete)
      07:31
    • Introduction to the Scherzo - and a clear four-bar phrase...
      01:38
    • ...'answered' by two two-bar phrases
      00:21
    • A disconcerting 'echo'
      01:03
    • Expectation, frustration and surprise
      00:27
    • The phrase length exands from nine to fourteen bars
      00:37
    • The beginning of the second half...
      01:08
    • ...or should it go from G Minor to D Major?
      00:09
    • Doubts are sown as the tonality becomes elusive.
      00:49
    • A varied reprise of part one, and the end of the Scherzo proper
      00:33
    • A conversational start to the Trio section
      00:40
    • Another Schubertian phrase extension
      00:26
    • Two overlapping phrases add up to a single theme.
      00:22
    • The piano adds a third phrase to the overlap.
      00:32
    • The overlaps continue as the key drifts downwads
      00:36
    • Another Schubertian key-jump, now to B flat
      00:46
    • A dramatic transformation of mood
      00:53
    • Awakening from a dream: the main theme's return
      00:52
    • Cue to complete Scherzo
      00:12
    • Music: third movement (complete)
      03:52
    • Enter the trout, at last; a meeting with the original
      00:31
    • Music: 'Die Forelle'
      02:00
    • Back to the Quintet: the strings, headed by the violin, introduce the theme.
      01:25
    • The first variation
      01:42
    • The second variation
      01:14
    • The third variation
      01:20
    • The fourth variation, part one
      01:34
    • The fourth variation, part two
      00:58
    • The fifth variation
      02:45
    • The final variation, part one: violin and piano alone introduce the theme
      00:32
    • The final variation, part two: the cello takes the tune.
      00:25
    • The final variation, part three: piano and violin return as a duo...
      00:25
    • The final variation, part four: ...as do the viola and cello.
      00:18
    • The final variation, part five: the entire ensemble is reunited.
      00:40
    • Music: fourth movement (complete)
      07:10
    • Introduction to the finale: Schubert as wizard of repetition
      02:18
    • Easily overlooked: the accompaniment from cello and double-bass
      00:36
    • Contrasts of timbre and register
      00:59
    • A repetition, and yet not a repetition
      00:08
    • A journey begun; the phenomenon of musical gravity
      00:23
    • The journey completed
      00:17
    • The source of musical gravity
      00:23
    • Music: saint-saens - The Carnival of the Animals 'The Pianists'
      00:28
    • A scale of shifting tensions
      00:50
    • Music: Beethoven, Symphony No. 1 (Finale)
      00:38
    • Back to Schubert
      00:40
    • The piano embellishes a scalewise descent.
      00:19
    • A retrospective moment
      00:33
    • Repetition more apparent then real
      01:02
    • A taste of phrase rhythm
      01:26
    • Shifting patterns of accentuation
      00:28
    • The section reviewed
      00:16
    • An increasingly sophisticated texture as parts interact
      00:46
    • More phrase rhythm
      00:30
    • A repetition from the strings...
      00:11
    • ...and an answer from the piano
      00:13
    • In transition to the secondary key
      00:51
    • The origin of the second theme
      00:19
    • The second main theme
      00:39
    • The closing section begins, with a question answered.
      00:43
    • The question repeated, a slightly differnet answer
      00:28
    • First theme of closing section reviewed
      01:00
    • Remembrance of things past
      00:28
    • The piano and strings argue over the harmony.
      01:14
    • Emergence of the final theme
      00:25
    • An unexpected thunderstorm
      00:51
    • The sound of silence
      01:30
    • Cue to complete Finale
      01:00
    • Music: Finale (Complete)
      06:48