Schubert – Impromptu Op.90 No.4 in A Major – (Kawai K200)

To me, Schubert really was one of the greatest composers of all time. He lived a very short life during the classical period but was able to compose many masterpieces for the piano. I believe the set of four impromptus in Op.90 is among those masterpieces. I’ve been wanting to play these pieces since the first time I heard them, and now I think I got to the level where I can at least try to play them half-convincingly.

The No.4 is my least favorite impromptu, but nevertheless, a very beautiful piece with two very distinct contrasting sections that showcase Schubert’s style. The first section is characterized by the light, fast, watery-like, fallen arpeggios in the right hand, with a dance-like accompaniment in the left hand for most of it. It is extremely challenging not because of the speed, but because of the dynamic markings of pianissimo and the repeated notes that connect each small group of arpeggios. Playing this on an upright piano is especially challenging due to those fast repeated notes and the necessary dynamic control. The second part, the trio, has a beautiful mourning cantabile melody that has to be played with the 4th and 5th fingers of the right hand, along with a constant flow of very soft and fast repeated chords as an accompaniment being done in both hands. It has a dark, solemn character, and it is my favorite part of the piece. Again, it is necessary to have a masterful dynamic control and the ability to highlight the melody during the whole section. Keeping the hands very relaxed is also very important, as the repeated chords and the stretches in the right hand can easily lead to tension and injure.

This piece was very challenging to me and I’ve been playing it every day for several months now. It wasn’t hard to learn, as it is very repetitive, and the harmonies are very straightforward. But the refinement of this piece would take a lifetime. I was never particularly happy about my interpretation and sometimes I would blame the limitations of my small upright piano. I tried to record it several times, but I was never happy with the result. I notice that the weather affected my performance, as changes in the air humidity caused a slight change in the piano action, and with heavier keys, the fast repeated notes in the first part would fail more often. For that reason, I waited until the rainy season was over to commit to the “final” recording. Now my piano is a bit out of tune and with some regulation issues as well. But facing the worst stage of the pandemic here in Brazil, and with no expectation of it getting any better (ever… F!!!!! genocidal insane president), I won’t call the technician anytime soon. So, this is the best I can do for now. I will continue to work on this piece, and on the other 3 impromptus of the set. I hope I can play the entire Op.90 by the end of the year. Then, I might do a live concert on youtube to face my performance fear.

Let me know in the comments your thoughts regarding my performance. I am just a “beginnerish” amateur pianist, but I am trying really hard to get better :)

As with most of my uploads, this recording was made using a pair of condenser microphones, AKG P170, placed above the top lid of my upright piano, a Kawai K200.