[Alfred Brendel] Schubert: Drei Klavierstücke -- D946 

What CD is this from?

Words can't even begin to describe the beauty of Schubert's music.

These pieces are among the last works Schubert wrote. How can they be so playful and blithely, considering his health at that time? Simply outstanding, I love Schubert!

It´s a Schubert´s epigone. It´s impossible not to realize the influence of the last one in Schumann´s Carnival opus 9. Schubert is really one of the greatest composers ever.

Minute 13:20 onward is the true definition of genius in play. Schubert is a genius. The melody is the best i have heard.

The D-flat Major trio section of the third piece is heavenly and triumphant. Schubert knew his time was almost up, but he kept on composing.

In 1827, Schubert wrote two sets of Impromptus, D. 899 and D. 935, each consisting of four pieces. Both collections have become staples in the keyboard repertory and are recognized as among the composer's greatest piano works. Much less well-known are these three compositions, often referred to in catalogs as the Drei Klavierstücke, which Schubert apparently intended to be part of yet another group of Impromptus. When they were completed, the composer left only tempo markings for titles. Thus, the three are titled as follows: Allegro assai (E flat minor); Allegretto (E flat major); Allegro (C major). What is difficult to explain about these pieces is their almost total neglect by pianists throughout the twentieth and into the twenty-first centuries. Their resultant lack of popularity among the public is hardly puzzling, but the relatively low opinion of them held by many musicologists is equally difficult to account for. Most who examine these works will find they are examples of undeniably high art in the composer's keyboard output. The first two are in the rondo form of ABACA, while in the last, Schubert uses the more standard ternary form of ABA. Some musicologists have regarded the first piece primarily as a Scherzo with two trios. However one views its form, the music itself is rhythmic and lively in its main thematic material, then it turns richly Romantic in the long, slow section. After the return of the opening material, another theme is heard, also slow in contrast to the first subject and somewhat ponderous, too. After a reprise of the main themes, the piece ends. The second item here begins in a serene, subdued mood, with the Allegretto marking sounding more like a Moderato. The theme is lovely, if somewhat wistful. Succeeding sections are lively by contrast, and offer much color and playfulness. Thus, the scheme Schubert uses here is opposite that in the first piece, with the outer sections essentially slow and the inner ones fast or lively. Overall, though, the piece serves the function of a slow movement in the set. The third entry begins with robust good cheer, again the composer offering rhythmic drive and much color. Although the second subject is less driven and somewhat subdued, it is still lively and bright. While this is a well-crafted work, it is probably the least ambitious of the three in terms of individuality and formal complexity. It would be difficult to compare the Drei Klavierstücke with its cousins, the two sets of Impromptus, from 1827. From a purely artistic point of view, however, all three collections can be ranked as major endeavors, with this group of three perhaps a mere rung below the other pair. This collection was first published in 1868, at a time when the rediscovery of Schubert was beginning to take wing, owing to the efforts of English musicologist George Grove, who became a strong advocate of his music beginning in 1856. (AllMusic)

one of my good friend recently died from an accident. She was such a sweet soul and supposed to be a pianist one day. Schubert used to be her favorite composer. The more I listen to Schubert, the more I understand her.

Not heard this piece till today, but it had me captivated from the start. Had to stop all else I was doing and listen! Glad I came across it.

My favorite rendition. He sings and dances; there's drama and beauty. What a joy!

Dramatisch, leidenschaftlich, voller Ueberraschungen. Dynamik, Agogik, ein kraftvoller und dennoch kantabler Anschlag - Brendel gewinnt Schubert faszinierende neue Seiten ab. Echt toll!!

Spectacular pieces... On the second piece, the bars from 13:27 are just out of this world! A true gift of life to be alive to listen to this!

Ich bin damit einverstanden, ein wunderbares Stück. Solche außergewöhnlichen Gehirn von Herrn Schubert.

13:20 onwards - I could listen to this part all day, every day.

This and the final piano sonata are my favorite pieces by Schubert, and among my favorite pieces among all composers.

Ich bin total begeistert. Die Stücke gehören ab sofort zu meinen Lieblingsstücken.

O Schubert, do u have any idea how much I love ur compositions?

"You make the piano sing", told someone Schubert after his first public concerto. This statement is so true.

fantastic! What would be the world like without music?! Thanks to F.S. and the uploader! It's a nourisment for the soul.

Crazy how much better Brendel is at these pieces than anyone else.

The Everest of romantic music. Semplicemente meraviglioso. Thanks

I search around for new piano music but some way I always come back to Schubert. This is my favourite piece.

The best mixture of highest technique and innate lyricism.

I found this relatively recently... and fell in love. It's a gem because I absolutely love all three movements.

What a masculine and vibrant Schubert, and a fantastic sound quality. Thanks so much!

What a beautiful composition. A privilege to listen to. Schubert was a brilliante man, a composer of nice melodic compositions, and also a composer of suspenseful compositions like his Quartet no. 14 in D Minor "Der Tod und Das Mädchen." A marvelous, yet apprehensive piece of music. :]

Thanks for such a wonderful post. A master piece played by a super genius.

Well, I will have to search out these performances and add them to my Alfred Brendel collection. Wonderful. Thank you for posting.

Oh only Schubert and only Alfred Brendel; no doubt that they must be kindred spirits. It's things like this which remain beyond description, or explanation...Thank You!...

Awesome - thanks for posting. I stumbled upon Schuberts impromptus and Six Moments Musicaux about a year ago and now listen to at least a couple of them everyday..

C'est tellement beau...je ne puis m'empêcher de me chanter la mélodie dans la thème.

poter ascoltar queste bellissime composizioni è veramente un piacere. maria Giulia Tognotti

Thank you so much for uploading this. I´m watching it again and again

fabulous work and an equally fabulous performance!

Stupefacente!!!! Pieno di emozioni, di sentimenti! Schubert ha usato una grandissima tecnica ed una grandissima espressività nel scrivere questi pezzo pieno di una quantità di sentimenti,incredibile! Bellissimo

13:29. Exquisitely beautiful. My first foray into Schubert's music. What a gift! Thank you for posting the sheet music. This is all so interesting.

I quite agree Brendel is my favorite interpreter of Schubert. I love this one as well as his performance of D.899.I recently found his Mozart work to be equally as enjoyable!

Amazing pieces for an amazing performer. Awesome video.

I think it's favorite from Schubert. I'll learn it someday.

I came to the video taken from you without your permission first. I read your comment and went to this post. Thank you for sharing this great music. I am a fan of Schubert music and pianist Brendel.

What I especially like about Brendel,is his wide-open sound and arpeges...for once more he is prooving out to stand amongst the tops!!!

I am an Austrian-American and I totally agree with you; Mozart was clearly brilliant but Haydn and Schubert were his equals. Beethoven, on his death bed, was shown a transcription of Schubert's great symphoney the 8th (erroneously now called his Ninth) and after reading the score, said, "this one will become more famous than me", Schubert was a pall bearer at Beethoven's funeral and then ironically died one year later. Its a matter of taste of course but these three composers are among the best

Gorgeous! Thank you.

I love this piece.And nice performance!!!!

Amazingly modern even after two centuries!

I discovered it on the radio & loved it ♥

Prachtig spel van Brendel. Ik ben een fan van hem. Hij heeft zo'n mooie aanslag op de piano. Dank voor het delen van dit (voor mij onbekende) werk.

Thanks for uploading!

very modern for his time...

awesome, thanks for posting!

Fantastic version.

Thank you for sharing this with us... I love ANYTHING Schubert... but this one us impressive!

This just leaves me speechless. I should practice right now, but I don't want to stop listening to this.

i know nothing about piano, but about music i know something. The only thing to say here is THANK YOU FOR THIS AMAZING AUDIO and I LOVE IT

It sounds so modern

Merci beaucoup que vous donnez les cahiers de musique!

The best part starts at 0:00 and ends at the end of the video.

I hadn't noticed the Appasionata quote at 3:45 untill now.

These pieces are amazing. Enough said.

That's it! I must play this!

I have a much earlier version by Brendel of these amazing pieces--he's playing this on at a significantly faster tempo, I am not sure if I like it as much as the other one.

Bravo brilliance music

Sehr schön, ich mag auch den Klang des Flügels sehr.

03:23:Piano Concerto 1st Mov 04:23:Piano Concerto 2nd Mov 12:5Piano Concerto 3rd Mov

Incredible 😃😃

What a fun a beautiful piece! I think I might learn this. =)

La segunda pieza es pura Bellinte, gracias a Dios y a Schubert. No hay palabras.

brendel et lipatti sont les maîtres de l'interprétation schubertienne ,, sonate sublime comme toujours chez schubert bien que difficile à jouer contrairement aux apparences

You can see in the description. By the way, Alfred Brendel

That sir, was awesome.

Ich stimme zu, setzte er alles auf eine höhere Ebene durch viele seiner Werke. Ich sage, Job gut gemacht.

Idk, if anyone feel the same, I will be emotional when I listen to this piece.

soo amazing :)

The part at 13:29 is just magic

interesting conversation though ! I learnt something new today !

Awesome!

Brendel magistral.

Man he really is great

This is the best version. I also have this recording and D946/2 is the track that has the most number of plays on my itunes :). You should put on the title that it is Brendel's version. More people would come to watch.

Спасибо!!!

Wolfgang Brown hat völlig Recht! Das beste Kommentar, was es hier zu lesen gab! Nice man.

Schubert's best music ever!!!

Awesome

Davvero bello .. io sono sono un'amante del pianoforte ! Da grande farò la pianista ,ormai ho deciso !!

Heard this during my morning commute on Atlanta NPR (WABE 90.1). When I parked in the parking deck at work, I actually sat in my car -- entranced -- and listened to the rest of it. Beautiful. Really wonderful composition. Favorite part starts at 13:29, but it was a toss-up between that and the intro itself.

Sublime!

Il primo meraviglioso

00:00: Piano Concerto In Evening Credits Ending Theme Song

I agree, this is the best performance ever.

I am here everyday.

OK it has fixed itself 2 hours later. Intriguing.

perfect

I love Arrau's Beethoven sonatas. I will check his version of the Klavierstucke. Thank you!

bruder kickt anders hart

!!!!! БЛАГОДАРЮ!!!!!

This piece is amazing! I just decided to put some Schubert pieces to my program in upcoming season.. Hopefully we are gonna play Arpeggione sonata with my "favourite" cellist, so this pieces will fill greatly in.. And Brendel's interpretation is brilliant. He is not maybe the very very best "technically gifted" pianist, but he compensates this greatly by his brain.. (well.., don't take me wrong, he says this himself in some docu, like a .. "my hands are not good, sorry to say.. So somehow, I must compensate this.." .. :) I like him very much - the real "in-a-healthy-way-mad-genius"

13:28 - best part.

If I had the same opportunity for a time travel ,I would command him to complete his many incomplete pieces.

Eine große oder spektakuläre Melodie tatsächlich.

This is awesome for the finals =) Thank you so much!