APO Livestream - The New Zealand Herald Premier Series: The Greats - Listening Notes: New Listener

The third movement, Scherzo (Allegro vivace, playful,
light and very fast) opens with the first theme played by
the strings. A second feature of the movement is the
waltz themes that keep appearing – the first of these
constitutes the second theme.
The second section opens in the woodwinds and brass,
with a short, detached string accompaniment. This section
ends with two loud chords. The Trio section then starts
with horns, clarinets, bassoons, and trumpets playing
together and the movement’s fourth theme is played by
a woodwind choir. Next, the flutes and bassoons play the
Trio’s opening theme again. The Trio then repeats back to
the start of the Scherzo to finish that movement.
The final movement, Allegro vivace (very fast), has two
main themes. It begins with a call to attention, with very
loud notes. The second theme also has a running rhythm
in the strings while the woodwinds play the melody.
There are fragments of this theme until both main
themes are heard again in their entirety.
A final section expands some of the melodic material
with a short episode where strings, horns and bassoons
play with the full orchestra answering in different keys.
The final section is unusually long and the movement’s
introductory rhythm returns before a very sudden, loud
chord that gradually fades away to the end.
DID YOU KNOW?
In March 1827, Schubert was a torchbearer at
Beethoven’s funeral.
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