Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828)

chubert wrote his Adagio D178 in 1815 – the year which was known as the composer’s ‘annus mirabilis’ (miraculous year):: This gorgeous G major Adagio shows Schubert at his most sublime. There is a certain simplicity which confirms that less can often be more. However, heaps of musicality will be needed in order to bring the piece to life. Just look at those first eight bars: how simple the music seems, right? The notes certainly aren’t hard to master, but it’s what we with them! Phrasing, rhythm, voicing, articulation… all need to be fine-tuned to perfection – and that includes the rests! At bar 32, repeated quavers appear in the bass line which add a new level of meaning. Then, at bar 54, triplets are introduced, heightening the mood even more. At bar 58, the melody returns, with decoration in both hands.