Schubert Die Forelle (The Trout)

Franz Schubert Piano Quintet in A major, D 667 "The Trout"

Considered the greatest melodist of all time, Austrian classical composer Franz Schubert is renowned for German 'lied' folk melodies (solo voice with accompaniment, usually, piano), and "Unfinished Symphony." Among the prominent composers associated with Vienna – Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven - only Schubert was born in Vienna, a true blue-blooded Viennese.

The "Trout Quintet" is the popular name for the Piano Quintet in A major, D. 677,  by Austrian composer Franz Schubert. This work was composed in 1819, when Schubert was only 22 years old, however, it was only published in 1829, and by this time the composer has died.



Franz Schubert - Die Forelle/The Trout (Complete). Youtube, uploaded by storio.  Accessed March 30, 2014.

This music is written for piano, violin, viola, cello and double bass, a deviation from the usual piano quintet, that is, piano and string quartet.  "The Trout" was written for a group of musicians coming together to play the music of Schubert's fellow pianist and composer, J. Nepomuk Hummel.

The piece is known as The Trout because the fourth movement is a set of variations on Schubert's earlier Lied "Die Forelle" (The Trout).  The quintet was written for a wealthy music patron and amateur cellist, Sylvester Paumgartner of Steyr in Upper Austria, who also suggested that Schubert include a set of variations on the Lied.

Structure of Piano Quintet in A major D. 667 "The Trout"

1. Allegro vivace in sonata form.
2. Andante in F major. The movement is composed of two symmetrical sections.
3. Scherzo: Presto.
4. Andantino - Allegretto in D major. A theme and variations on Schubert's Lied Die Forelle.
5. Allegro giusto. The Finale is in two symmetrical sections, like the second movement but with slight variations.

Enjoy an all-time favourite Schubert composition, "Die Forelle" (Trout Quintet, D667). What a delightful music! 

 

To quote Finnish pianist, conductor and composer Olli Mustonen:

'There is something truly hypnotising about Schubert’s Trout Quintet… I feel it is an endless source of energy and joy. Like a magical lake, forest or a river, it is so good to be near its presence – its existence makes the world a better place.'

 

Video Credit:

 Selected videos of the superb performance of this brilliant group, including their fun time rehearsal:

Immortal Music: Schubert Piano Quintet D667/The Trout/Jacqueline du Pre, Daniel Barenboim, Itzhak Perlman, Pinchas Zukerman, and Zubin Mehta. Youtube, uploaded by George Boost. Accessed November 19, 2017. 

The Trout, Music Film of 1969 with Du Pré, Perlman, Barenboim, Mehta & Zukerman.  YouTube, uploaded by allegrofilms. Accessed February 16, 2017.




Schedule:
00:20  Rehearsal and backstage
15:07  I. Allegro vivace
24:43  II. Andante
33:03  III. Scherzo: Presto
37:53  IV Andantino - Allegretto (theme and variations on Schubert's lied "Die Forelle")
46:35  V. Allegro giusto

Schubert Piano Quintet D667 The Trout, with Jacqueline du Pre, Daniel Barenboim, Itzhak Perlman, Pinchas Zukerman. The performance was recorded live in London, Queen Elizabeth Hall, 30 August 1969. Franz Schubert's Forellenquintett. This is most hilarious!  Aside from loving Schubert's "Die forelle", it's fun watching these talented and brilliant musicians during rehearsals.


Resources:

• Chusid, Martin. "Schubert's chamber music: before and after Beethoven"; Gibbs, Cristopher H.  "German reception: Schubert's 'journey to immortality'"; and Notley, Margaret. "Schubert's social music: the 'forgotten genres'".  In Cristopher H. Gibbs. The Cambridge Companion to Schubert. Cambridge Companions to Music. United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press,  1997.
• Latham, Alison (ed),  The Oxford Companion to Music. Oxford University Press, 2002.
• Perry, Jeffrey. "The Wanderer's Many Returns: Schubert's Variations Reconsidered," Journal of Musicology, 19/2, 2002
• Rosen, Charles.  The Classical Style: Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, expanded edition, W. W. Norton and Co., 1997

 

(c) January 31, 2011. Updated September 8, 2022. Tel Asiado.  Inspired Pen Web. All rights reserved.