Schubert Impromptu No. 2 in Eb, Op. 90: Looping and Grouping notes

"Looping" and "grouping" provide prompts for practicing relentless triplets in the opening section of Schubert's Eb Impromptu. Myriads of scale-like passages meander in unpredictable directions at times, often inserting half-steps under principle notes that carry a thread of melody that peaks with a sequence of secondary dominants to climax. But of poignant beauty is an…

Revisiting Schubert Impromptu in Eb, Op. 90, No. 2

Since I have two students immersed in this gorgeously spun out Impromptu, my review has been perfectly timed. http://youtu.be/daHh9E1rNos Schubert's composition challenges the player to be lyrical through swaths of triplets. These roll out as fast but contoured melody. Laying a good learning foundation requires attentive listening and a well-conceived fingering tied to Slow practicing.…

A Steinway grand piano, vintage, 1917, breathes life into a Schubert Impromptu, Op. 90 (Video)

I decided to record the Schubert Impromptu in Eb, Op. 90 on my Steinway grand to compare timbre and tone with the Haddorff console, and my verdict is that the Steinway surpassed Haddy in clarity and range of dynamics. It's a rebuilt piano--work done by Dale Erwin of Erwin's Pianos, Modesto, and its projection is…

Playing the Schubert Impromptu in Eb, Op. 90 on a very bright, resonant piano with a history to it (Video)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtIGzTiw7Y8 By contrast on my Steinway Grand: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHFOPFzUxUw I almost dared myself to play this gorgeous composition on my Haddorff console with its imperfect regulation and "temperament." (tuning) It's one of those rare instruments that has the ring of the Romantic era, as if it was a period instrument. Pat Frederick, of the Frederick collection,…

Making Pianistic Compromises: Schubert Impromptu in Eb, Op. 90

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHFOPFzUxUw I was struck by a post at Piano World.com about making compromises when playing difficult passages. The writer referred to a technically challenging Chopin work: "But I simply cannot manage to get every note in on the two long runs, the first of which comes on measure 15. When trying to play to speed,…