Franz Schubert composed many songs (Lieder), as well as operas, overtures,and sonatas. Many of his symphonies transport me to the land of chamber music because of their special spirituality.
Schubert’s Fifth symphony was written when the composer was 19, and it is the last of his ‘early’ symphonies (although given that he died at the age of 31 all his works are in a sense early!).
It is composed for only a small orchestra and is full of lightness and grace but nevertheless has some hidden complexity particularly in the first two movements.
In many ways this early-Romantic music creates a feeling of chamber music for me. As often as I have heard it, I always wait for the slow movement where I want to hear great dialog between instruments. It is as though the strings introduce a topic, and the winds respond with a thoughtful reply. Nothing is moving rapidly; it is a conversation painted in music.
Here is a wonderful performance:
