Description
This is No. 2 in A-flat major from the four Impromptus D. 935, also composed in 1827. Among Nos. 1, 2 and 4, which Schumann heard as movements of one sonata, it takes the place of the slow movement, a calm song after the turbulent No. 1. It is among the best loved of the four and is often played on its own.
It is in A-flat major and 3/4. A calm, dreamlike theme is presented in ternary form, and a middle section in D-flat major changes the mood with flowing triplet figuration. Running over seven minutes but with a comparatively modest 2,734 notes, it is gentler and more meditative than No. 1, an unhurried triple-time tread running through it.
Rated advanced, its range is too wide for 61 keys, so it suits 76 keys or more. It calls less for display and more for singing out its intricate figuration, with the concentration to support long-breathed phrases. Bringing the melody out from within the chords of the theme matters most; use the hand colours to locate the melody, and slow the playback to even out the triplets of the middle section for a steadier result.
A category of Romantic-era piano pieces titled "Impromptu," including works by Schubert and Chopin. Their poetic melodies and improvisatory feel appeal to intermediate players and listeners who enjoy lyrical character pieces.
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Sheet music provided by Mutopia Project
About the Composer
Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
Franz Schubert was a Vienna-born composer who died at only 31 but left behind a vast body of work, especially in the field of Lieder. Known for his gift for melody and subtle modulation, songs such as "Erlkonig" remain widely performed today. His piano works, including the Impromptus, are equally rich in lyricism. This site includes the Impromptus, Opp. 90 and 142, and the "Hungarian Melody."
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