Schubert Impromptus

[Antnee]

My teacher assigned me Op. 90 no 4 and I've been listening to recordings of it online. I LOVE it!!! It is so beautiful. I can't wait to start diving into it. What other improptus are good in your opinon. Your favorites? Do you play any? Any other info would be, as always, most appreciated...  

-Tony-

[sharon_f]

I love the Schubert Impromptus! My favorite is Op. 90, No. 3 in G-Flat. Sublimely beautiful.

[pianogal86]

I've played the op. 90 no. 4 and am currently playing the op. 90 no. 3 (Gb major).  Both are delightful pieces.  My chief problems on the Ab Impromptu were conquering the feathery arpeggios in the opening bar of the right hand, and also, getting a feel of the piece as a whole.  It has so much repetition that I struggled with keeping the audience's (and my own!) attention throughout the whole piece.  I absolutely loved the middle section, the passion and pathos in it is almost unbearable.

For me the Gb Impromptu has been harder yet.  I have pulled my hair out literally over this piece.  Getting the relationship between the bass, inner voices and melody was a struggle in technic and musicianship.  Memory was also an issue for me.   I'm on the edge of conquering it now, and just in time because my Sr. Recital is approaching on the first of June.

Nice topic.  I love all of the Schubert Impromptus.  Does anyone have a favorite recording?

Pianogal

Pianogal

[belvoce]

I attempted to start the Gb Impromptu, but it soon proved that I wasn't ready for it yet. But I love it and it is very beautiful.

[pianogal86]

Belvoce, I know how you feel.  Not too long ago my teacher told me, "I never would have given you this piece if I had realized how hard it is."  However, all the hard work has paid off, and the simple beauty of playing this piece is a reward in itself.

Pianogal  

[thracozaag]

I've played the op. 90 no. 4 and am currently playing the op. 90 no. 3 (Gb major).  Both are delightful pieces.  My chief problems on the Ab Impromptu were conquering the feathery arpeggios in the opening bar of the right hand, and also, getting a feel of the piece as a whole.  It has so much repetition that I struggled with keeping the audience's (and my own!) attention throughout the whole piece.  I absolutely loved the middle section, the passion and pathos in it is almost unbearable.

For me the Gb Impromptu has been harder yet.  I have pulled my hair out literally over this piece.  Getting the relationship between the bass, inner voices and melody was a struggle in technic and musicianship.  Memory was also an issue for me.   I'm on the edge of conquering it now, and just in time because my Sr. Recital is approaching on the first of June.

Nice topic.  I love all of the Schubert Impromptus.  Does anyone have a favorite recording?

Pianogal

Pianogal

 Lipatti (for the g-flat), Edwin Fischer, Schnabel.

koji

[jennbo]

um the fingering for the albertis are 24212421242124212421.  also you should use the una corda pedal.  and if your technique is great then you should be able to properly control your arm weight so it's not pounded out.  also maybe your piano sucks no offense.  maybe the action of it isn't that great so it drags and isn't "feathery"
all the op.90 impromptus are really fun to play.  no. 3 is particularly famous for its beautiful melody, no. 2 is good for finger practice, no. 1 is more grand and regal.
personally i didn't have a hard time with the Ab impromptu.  I really liked the middle part.  

[donjuan]

Nice topic.  I love all of the Schubert Impromptus.  Does anyone have a favorite recording?

Pianogal

Pianogal

I love Horowitz's recording of Op.90 No.3.  It is so..it's really speechless to describe the kind of music- the divine music- the heavenly glow Horowitz brings out.  I usually listen to Schubert and wonder why everything needs to be repeated so many times.  It feels like, when I listen to Horowitz play Schubert, like I have gone to heaven for eternity, and I dont want anything to change..

I dislike Op.90 No.2 and No.4 because they are so disgustingly overplayed.  When I went to a competition, in the Romantic class, everyone either played Schubert Op.90 NO.2 or Op.90 No.3.  I ended up winning the class for my Liszt- Un Sospiro.  I think the adjudicator was getting tired of hearing mediocre performance after another, of tediusly overplayed music.  I really think Schubert would be rolling around in his grave if he knew how it's not considered special to play his music.  Everyone does it!  What I cant figure out is why Op.90 No.1 is played so infrequently.
donjuan  

[jennbo]

Check out the Perahia recordings of the Impromptus.  They're quite a treat.

They're just wussies.  No. 1 is one of my favorites, it's regal yet has a beautiful melody.  

Also, they're my favorite because no. 2 and 4 were easily learned.  
I mean really, are the albertis that hard?  But for a person with small hands, no. 1 was quite a challenge.  [Actually, most of them were quite a challenge]

But do check out the Perahia's recordings of the Impromptus.  stay away from the Uchida recordings of them.  They're so dry.