The first movement of the Schubert Symphony #9 begins with an Andante of such nobility that it is inadequately described as an introduction. That bold–yet quiet–opening horn call has a marked influence on many of the allegro themes to come, and then returns, at the movement’s end, loudly proclaiming its success. The entire Allegro reveals a sweeping rhythmic vitality unparalleled in Schubert’s work.
The slow movement sings of tragedy, which later raised its voice in Schubert’s Winterreise song cycle and surfaces again and again in the music of his last years. And then later, Schubert, like “Gretchen am Spinnrade” in one of his most famous songs, builds to a climax so wrenching that everything stops before sputtering back to life.
The scherzo and its lovely trio midsection, with their wealth of dance tunes, remind us that Schubert would gladly improvise dance music for others, while he, with his poor eyesight and unfortunate height (barely five feet) sat safely at the piano all night.
Schubert launches his final movement with the kind of energetic, fearless music that appears to charge onward toward its conclusion.
Here is Manfred Honeck conducting this music for your enjoyment:
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