We all know that it is rude to interrupt a person when they are speaking. Most of us learned this early in our lives. Later, we discovered that there are exceptions to the non-interruption rule, such as Great Uncle Herbert droning on for a half hour about that crop of petunias he raised in 1947.

Our friend, Mr. Schubert has been criticized for droning on an on a bit himself—albeit elegantly and sweetly. He has also been admired for interrupting himself musically. Interruption is a time honored compositional device and Schubert brought it to new heights especially in his songs where the vocal and accompaniment parts interrupt and change each other’s course.

One of the first big Schubert pieces I studied was the Impromptu in Ab, Op. 90 No. 4. Looking back on it, I really thought of the piece very impressionistically. I loved the contrasting atmospheres—from lighthearted to yearning to passionate. I didn’t think too deeply about it. There were so many technical challenges to overcome that my brain got full just dealing with them. I truly learned voicing and timing through that Impromptu and the lesson has stood me in good stead ever since.

The piece begins with a cascade of notes and is immediately interrupted by solemn chords. This happens again and again, building until it seems that the progressions will take over. The lighthearted cascade prevails and eventually breaks out into song. It turns out that the interrupting progressions have been a foreshadowing of the very passionate B section to come.

I have played and taught the piece many times over the years and my conception of it has grown with every encounter. Each of my students have connected to the work in their own unique way. One saw the piece as a metaphor for the beauty of nature vs. the reality of the darker battle within it, another as life moving merrily along punctuated by moments of reflection and caution, another imagined light minded youth vs. serious minded conventional elders, and yet another envisioned a duel between 2 pianists. Recently, one of my students joked that it must have been written for a person who was easily distracted by bright and shiny objects. We laughed together over this funny we had seen making the rounds on Twitter. Ask me about my ADD or pie or my cat. A dog. I have a bike. Do you like TV? I saw a rock. Hi.

How lucky we are to have our students contribute to and enrich our own concepts of musical works. Every time I teach a piece I must see it though someone else’s eyes and hear it though their ears. And, in the process I am changed.

Here’s Murray Perahia playing the Impromptu Op. 90 No. 4 as an encore at the Barbican in 2009.

 

 

 

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