While Franz Schubert’s epic “Wanderer” Fantasy may not have been intended to be played by the uninitiated, his Six Moments Musicaux, published shortly before his death, are a much more accessible collection of pieces. The first in the series, though not the first to be composed, opens with a deceptively demanding exploration of what sounds like a simple yodeling theme. In a short minute, the theme is quickly modulated across different keys and interweaving rhythms. The piece follows a ternary A-B-A format, with each large section containing its own smaller A-B-A sections within. The larger B section switches things up with a much more lyrical melody, particularly in its smaller B section, before the piece returns to its original theme in the final large A section.
Overall, this piece was a lot of fun to learn. I’m hoping to study the other five in the series eventually, but they’ll have to wait for another day.
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