4 Impromptus, D.899 (Op.90)

Impromptu · Op. 90

Franz Schubert 1797–1828
Impromptu
Form
Op. 90
Catalogue
Score
First page of 4 Impromptus, D.899 (Op.90)

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Difficulty
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Themes & character
Songful lyricism·Wide emotional range·Schumann's praise·Schubertian intimacy

At a glance

Catalogue
Op. 90
Form
Impromptu

Movements

1
Allegro molto moderatoC minor

A stern marching opening that gradually softens into more lyrical territory.

2
AllegrettoE-flat major

Rippling triplet figuration in constant motion, interrupted by a stormier central episode in B minor.

3
AndanteG-flat major

One of Schubert's most serene melodies, spun out over a gently flowing accompaniment.

4
AllegrettoA-flat major

Cascading arpeggios in the right hand frame a darker, more turbulent middle section in C-sharp minor.

About the piece

A set of four impromptus composed in 1827 and among Schubert's most loved piano music. The first two were published in his lifetime; the last two only after his death. Robert Schumann, who championed Schubert's music for years, believed the four were really a disguised piano sonata in four movements. The pieces range widely in mood, from a stern marching opening in C minor to a serene, songful third piece in G-flat major. Though each can be played on its own, together they show Schubert's gift for turning the simplest of ideas into music of great tenderness and scale.

The composer

Franz Schubert
Franz Schubert
1797–1828

Franz Peter Schubert was an Austrian composer of the late Classical and early Romantic eras. He was immensely prolific despite living a short life, leaving behind a vast oeuvre of more than 1,000 compositions, including over 600 Lieder and other vocal works, seven complete symphonies, sacred music, operas, incidental music, and a large body of piano and chamber music. Among these are the songs "Gretchen am Spinnrade", "Erlkönig" and "Ave Maria"; the Trout Quintet; the Symphony No. 8 in B minor (Unfinished); the Symphony No. 9 in C major ; the String Quartet No. 14 in D minor ; the String Quintet in C major; the Impromptus for solo piano; the last three piano sonatas; the Fantasia in F minor for piano four hands; the incidental music to the play Rosamunde; the song cycles Die schöne Müllerin and Winterreise; and the song collection Schwanengesang.

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