Weekend Concert 12: Sunny Schubert
2006/10/7 14:20:16
Schubert always gives an impression of being somewhat melancholic. Look at the art song "Erlking" he wrote at age 17 -- only someone who had weathered many storms could have expressed that. Excessive precociousness meant his music displayed master-level caliber from the very start. Masters tend toward seriousness. Sunlight -- that word so apt for the young Mozart -- was already not quite fitting even for the later Mozart, let alone for Schubert.
But Schubert also had very sunny moments -- of course, these were mostly reflected in works from before age 25. There, Schubert is very Mozartean, yet with Schubert's own distinct character, making it all the more moving. The three works selected here are:
Piano Quintet in A Major
The famous "Trout" Quintet,
not just his,
but the sunniest of all chamber music works.
Joy is the hardest thing to express,
because joy in this world is too much of a luxury;
yet he expressed it so movingly without falling into cliche,
because he was a genius.
Piano Sonata in D Major
His sunniest piano sonata,
only an innocent heart could have written it.
Symphony No. 5 in B-flat Major
The most Mozartean symphony after Mozart,
yet within it one can still see a true Schubert.
This is a watershed in Schubert's instrumental creation:
before it, he could only be called outstanding;
after it, he ultimately became himself --
a great himself.
Comments
Chán Zhōng Shuō Chán 2006/10/7 16:27:37
Sorry, tracks one and two were swapped. Thanks for pointing it out -- it's been corrected.
Chán Zhōng Shuō Chán 2006/10/7 17:58:37
There's a lot of text about Schubert in previous concerts. Those interested can go take a look -- I won't copy it over.
Chán Zhōng Shuō Chán 2006/10/7 23:01:54
[Anonymous] Abegg
2006-10-07 21:45:54
In China, Schubert should receive as much attention as Chopin.
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Insightful. But it must be noted: how can Chopin compare with Schubert? Too many in this world parrot what they hear. Though Chopin is already very good -- these days, finding even a Chopin would be impossible.
Chán Zhōng Shuō Chán 2006/10/7 23:22:44
[Anonymous] rc
2006-10-07 22:17:02
http://blog.sina.com.cn/m/zhudake
Cultural Regression and Literary Periodization
Zhu Dake
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To discuss culture while departing from the literary heart -- all beside the point. Culture is but traces. That the pre-Qin cannot be attained today is not because of the writing, but because the people and their hearts cannot be attained.
Chán Zhōng Shuō Chán 2006/10/7 15:26:39
Please turn off all other background music.