Schubert himself subtitled his 4th Symphony ‘Tragic’. Although the introduction to the first movement does have the sense of gloom and tragedy about it, whether the rest of the symphony has much tragedy in it is questionable. Why did Schubert name it such if the music really isn’t all that tragic? Some have conjectured he did it to try and attract a publisher, but no one really knows why.
The 4th symphony is the first symphony Schubert wrote in a minor key, and he was about 19 years old when he wrote it in the years 1815-1816. Like so much of Schubert’s music, the 4th symphony had to wait a long time for its premiere, in 1849 in Leipzig.
The 4th Symphony is in the traditional 4 movements:
I Adagio molto – Allegro vivace
The introduction to the first movement moves through many keys, but Schubert is known for his modulating through distant keys before settling on one. The movement proper begins with a theme in the home key of C minor. The entire movement keeps driving forward with the second theme that adds to the momentum. The ending of the movement has another surprise in store…a coda in C major.
II Andante
This key-wandering is all the more remarkable as it all makes sense. It was one of Schubert’s many talents, this harmonic wandering and use of distant keys.
This is one of Schubert’s most attractive slow movements, it is in a major key with a few episodes in the minor to add interest and contrast.
III Menuetto.
Although named as such, this is far from a ‘menuetto’ in the common sense of the word. Schubert’s debt to Beethoven is heard as the syncopated accent on the third beat at the beginning of each phrase throws the music into a cross rhythm that stumbles its way to the trio.
The trio is a German Ländler, a peasant dance that Schubert knew very well.
IV Allegro
The finale begins with music as nervous and forward-moving as the first movement. After much development in various keys, the music turns to C major for the conclusion.
Here is the Vienna Philharmonic to play this music for you:
