Description
Passion and delicate lyricism alternate across more than nine minutes in this F minor piece, No. 1 of the four Impromptus D. 935 (Op. 142), composed in 1827. The set was published after Schubert's death, in 1839. Schumann suggested that Nos. 1, 2 and 4 might be movements of a single sonata, and the scale of this piece bears out that view.
It is in F minor and 4/4. After an introductory opening the theme unfolds, alternating between dramatic passion and delicate lyricism. In a middle episode the hands cross to pass broken chords back and forth, while short phrases above trade question and answer. Running over nine minutes with roughly 6,267 notes, it is a large piece.
It is rated advanced, and its range calls for a keyboard of 76 keys or more rather than 61. It demands strong architectural control to shape its shifting tempos and dynamics, and the stamina to sustain focus over its considerable length. How convincingly the contrasts between its scenes are drawn decides the performance. As it is long, use the A-B loop to work scene by scene, and check the hand crossings with the hand colours to grasp the whole.
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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