Schubert composed his violin sonata in in A major in 1851. While the Sonata’s mood is predominantly relaxed and genial, the violin writing is more challenging than in the three sonatas of 1816.
Schubert’s opening is gloriously memorable: a free-soaring violin melody counterpointed by a galloping rhythm in the keyboard bass. Despite moments of energetic dialogue for the two instruments, the movement is in essence a leisurely song without words for the violin that slips into all sorts of unexpected keys en route.
The Presto second movement is an exuberant take on the Beethovenian scherzo, full of teasingly irregular phrases, abrupt changes of dynamics and several leaps for the violin.
In the second half Schubert spirits us to remote tonal regions with nonchalant sleight-of-hand.
The C major Andantino begins with one of Schubert’s great tunes. But initial impressions are belied by the music’s harmonic adventure, both in the opening section, which quickly drifts to a far-flung D flat major.
After a condensed reprise of the opening, the major-minor equivocation of the very last bars is a touching and characteristic Schubertian effect.
Here is violinist Janine Jansen to play this sonata for you:
https://myclassicalnotes.com/
