Schubert: String Quintet and Trio

It is entirely due to Floon’s enthusiastic review of Schubert’s Quintet that I am writing this. I was browsing the classical reviews seeking some recommendations to try and happened upon this. I only have one example of Schubert in my collection (Rosamund) and quite enjoy it so thought I would give this a go too. So off to the Library I went and returned clutching The Raphael Ensemble’s superb rendition of the String quintet. Oh joy – Oh heaven I ...
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Schubert’s life is the quintessential example of the romantic notion of the neglected genius who dies in obscurity. An entire generation passed before his most substantial achievements even saw the light of day. The quintet is among them. It was one of his last works written only weeks before he died at such a tragically young age of 31.

Although Schubert left no indication of his inspiration for this piece it is known that ... more

It is entirely due to Floon’s enthusiastic review of Schubert’s Quintet that I am writing this. I was browsing the classical reviews seeking some recommendations to try and happened upon this. I only have one example of Schubert in my collection (Rosamund) and quite enjoy it so thought I would give this a go too. So off to the Library I went and returned clutching The Raphael Ensemble’s superb rendition of the String quintet. Oh joy – Oh heaven I seem to have hit the jackpot of chamber music.

Schubert’s life is the quintessential example of the romantic notion of the neglected genius who dies in obscurity. An entire generation passed before his most substantial achievements even saw the light of day. The quintet is among them. It was one of his last works written only weeks before he died at such a tragically young age of 31.

Although Schubert left no indication of his inspiration for this piece it is known that he had around the time of composing it played the Viola in Beethoven’s string quartet No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 131 (1826) of which Wagner has commented, “a soul in distress”, followed by pleasant visions, a new yearning for life, beauty, gentleness, yearning, love, whims, humour, hilarity” and then “transition to resignation and painful renunciation” – one man’s reaction and sure proof of the music’s ability to evoke both strong emotion and powerful imagery.”

This music sent Schubert “into such transports of delight and enthusiasm that all feared for him”.

Beethoven had died the previous year (1827) and Schubert had not only visited him shortly before his death but was also a torchbearer at his funeral.

I am no authority on music, I can’t discuss it technically (hardly know the difference between a major and minor) and so you will have to forgive me this lack of knowledge and trust to my intuition that this is great stuff. But I can say that this is music to get lost in. It has so much variation in mood and imagery that it is as if Schubert has poured his very life into it, the good, the bad and the ugly of his outstanding genius, his syphilis and deep melancholic depressions interspersed with highlights of joy, passion the shine out as proof they exist. Much of what Wagner said of Beethoven can be also said of the Quintet. I find some classical music is useful for housework – I put on cordless headphones and rouse myself into action accompanied by Mozart, other music I can use as background music but this quintet deserves full attention and I find it too emotional to let anything else interrupt it - particularly something as mundane as housework.

Floon and I are obviously not alone in finding the quintet special. This music has aroused the passions of many and the notes say” Many musicians have spoken in awe of its spiritual Elysianism, including the pianist Artur Rubinstein (who requested the slow movement be played at his funeral), the great nineteenth-century cellist Alfredo Piatti (who asked for it to be played during his dying hours to send him into the next world), and the renowned quartet leader John Saunders who had the opening seven bars of the first movement’s second subject inscribed on his tombstone above the following Shakespearian quotation (Sonnet XVIII):
So long as man can breathe, or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.

String Quintet in C Major, D956 (1828)

The title conveys nothing of the passion contained within. The titles of classical music are so boring; I wonder why composers didn’t give names to their music? This would have given us just a hint of what they were intending to express.

The strings in question are two violins, two cellos and a viola. According to notes accompanying the cd what makes this different and original at the time was the fact the Schubert decided “to add an extra cello to the normal string quartet configuration (two violins, viola, cello)”. I can only assume that is this that gives a wonderfully sonorous depth to the music.

Allegro ma non troppo [19’02]

The first movement has everything one might desire in music and it totally captivated me. Many people seem to prefer the slow second movement but the exquisite melody of the first touched my heart in a way that no other music has and made me a slave of Schubert. For me this movement provides the tingle factor that proves its greatness.

Adagio [13’40]

The second movement of the quintet the adagio is widely acclaimed and is currently has the second place on Desert Island discs top twenty. But this was not always the case ten years previously it did not feature at all.

The music is haunting and it is impossible not to conjure up images whilst swept away by it. It is subjective and everyone will have their own view but mine was of very large solitary teardrops.

The plip plopping melody of the plucked cello is like huge teardrops falling very slowly upon a bass drum. The so slow melody is pensive and deeply moving. A violin calls out a lonely lost melody, a last post. In the middle, the slow pace is interrupted by a striking outburst as if an apparition of a dancer has suddenly appeared giving some muse like inspiration and hope for a short time. But as the apparition fades the slow pace resumes but with a different slightly more positive feel.

I wondered if Schubert, inspired by playing Beethoven’s quartet, had been recalling Beethoven’s funeral as he composed this piece if so it was a stunning tribute.

Scherzo: Presto – Trio: Andante sostenuto [10’11]

The third movement is more than lively in fact I would describe it as manic or ecstatic. In total contrast to the previous movement a slow bit interrupts the fast urgent pace. It is a negative of the adagio which was slowness personified interrupted by drama. I don’t think this music is happy - it is wild and possibly jubilant but has a dissonant edge, which suggests a frustration or internal conflict of some sort.

The sombre andante sostenutu interlude recalls the adagio and must have provoked a few tears itself over the years. I can only quote the notes which describes it as “tortured innocence painfully suggests the composer’s increasing awareness of his own mortality (he died just over two weeks after completing the quintet).” Woken by the raucous scherzo the heart begins to pound.

Allegretto [9’41]

Schubert finally worked though the anger and frustration and the fourth movement has a more relaxed happy feel. The dance music reminiscent of gypsy violins plays quite cheerfully and by the end of the quintet one feels truly satisfied in some way and ready for anything in spite of the strange ending.

String Trio Movement in B Flat Major, D471 [11’50]

This short piece by Schubert, placed first on the cd, is much lighter and brighter than the quintet.

The Raphael Ensemble

The notes explain that “the Raphael Ensemble was formed in 1982 by six exceptional string players with a special desire to explore and perform the masterpieces of the quintet and sextet repertoire. Since then they have gained an outstanding reputation for its unique sound quality and immensely high standards of performance.” This recording was voted among the finest of more than 20 recordings of the quintet by Classic CD when it was released in 1995.

Not being a music aficionado I cannot begin to express an opinion on the quality of their work. But I found this recording extremely passionate and beautiful and would really love to see and hear them live because of it. However, I am not sure they are still around because although there is a web site at http://www.raphaels.co.uk/files/raphinfo.html seems to be out of date.

Conclusion

Schubert’s quintet is absolutely stunning and I intend to buy this recording because after listening to the library copy for a week I am totally addicted to it.

 

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