BaL 14.12.19/11.4.20 - Schubert Piano Quintet in A major "The Trout"

[Ein Heldenleben]

I agree, I have this recording and I don't enjoy the sound either. Because of this I'm amazed it is considered worthy of inclusion.

Looking at Alpie’s excellent list I am surprised that DON did not cast his net wider. So many wonderful musicians there...

[ardcarp]

I just wish McGregor would stop interrupting Norris.

Yes he had to jump in an explain to us what 'Allegro Vivace' meant.

I found the period piano sound 'interesting', but couldn't live with it.

Looking at Alpie’s excellent list I am surprised that DON did not cast his net wider. So many wonderful musicians there...

That's the current trend in BAL I'm afraid.

[Goon525]

Wasn’t it ‘Allegro Giusto’ for which there might be a bit more of an excuse?

[ardcarp]

Oh dear Goon. I think you'll have to explain Allegro Giusto to me.

It was definitely Allegro Vivace...but that's not quite the point I was trying to make! DON was talked over.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000cbbw

Approx 34 mins from start.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

'Allegro vivace' = cheerful and lively.
'Allegro giusto' doesn't make a lot of sense. Cheerfully right, perhaps?

[Pulcinella]

From The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music

giusto (It.). Just, strict.
allegro giusto means either a strict allegro or a moderate allegro (neither too fast nor too slow).
tempo giusto means either ‘strict’ time or ‘suitable’ time.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

'Allegro giusto' doesn't make a lot of sense. Cheerfully right, perhaps?

"Giusto" ("just so") isn't very helpful, is it? As if the composer were saying "Lively and ... y'know ... as it should go"!

[LeMartinPecheur]

'Allegro vivace' = cheerful and lively.
'Allegro giusto' doesn't make a lot of sense. Cheerfully right, perhaps?

Isn't Allegro giusto a proper, decent, standard allegro? That should be quite clear enough

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Isn't Allegro giusto a proper, decent, standard allegro? That should be quite clear enough

Ah! That would make sense in the context of the work, preceded by an Allegro vivace first movt, and the Allegretto fourth movement, Schubert's saying "this is Allegro, pure & simple".

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Isn't Allegro giusto a proper, decent, standard allegro? That should be quite clear enough

it depends whether you're a Klemperer or a Toscanini.

[LeMartinPecheur]

Ah! That would make sense in the context of the work, preceded by an Allegro vivace first movt, and the Allegretto fourth movement, Schubert's saying "this is Allegro, pure & simple".

fhg: very good point Somewhere between the two? Can we get DON back to analyse this?

[Lordgeous]

Shame compoisers don't adopt the wonderfull "Graingerithms (eg "louden" rather than "crescendo", or instructing the player to interpret a passage "with pioneering keeping on-ness".)

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/nov/10/percy-grainger

[cloughie]

Has anyone noticed that AMcG is referring to DON as ‘Norris’. Is this a standard way of addressing him, or are they back at prep school?

Should be Dave really! Yes, button it Andy and let the guy talk - has a lovely forthright approach to the task!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Shame compoisers don't adopt the wonderfull "Graingerithms (eg "louden" rather than "crescendo", or instructing the player to interpret a passage "with pioneering keeping on-ness".)

https://www.theguardian.com/music/20...percy-grainger

[ardcarp]

Can I go off piste? Can I talk instead about Andante? And to be more precise the 4th Mov't of Schubert's otherwise worthy quintet? Can I use this thread as a confessional?

I hate the Trout theme with a passion. Generally my musical tastes are eclectic, but all this began in my childhood. I was coaxed from the choirstalls to stand up on stage and sing songs. Schubert songs. And I hated them! Hark, hark the lark, Roslein Rot (indeed) , but worst of all the bloody Trout. The Trite Trout as I thought of it. And such an embarrassing English translation.

An angler there was standing
With rod and line in hand;
Intent upon the fishes,
A sportive, fearless band.

When you're TWELVE, for God's sake.

All so very different from hiding behind a copy and belting out Stanford in G or Hear my Prayer.

A psychologist would probably have much to say about this childhood trauma. Luckily as a young adult I was badgered into performing Auf dem Strom for tenor (me) horn (Tim Reynish) and piano (can't remember who). Despite its watery connotations, I loved it, especially as it was now in German, a language I didn't understand. Maybe it was like getting onto a horse again after a nasty riding accident.

The end.