Not published until 1851, this work of Schubert’s early maturity fully deserves the designation “duo” appended by the publisher; unlike Schubert’s earlier works for violin and piano, this sonata makes the keyboard a full partner and displays the composer’s increasing confidence in writing for piano.
The first of the four movements is an Allegro moderato, in which a few bars of amiable piano introduction become the ambling accompaniment to a low-key, songful violin theme. Soon both instruments offer a much more animated treatment of this material and then a new idea that is essentially an elaboration of the opening piano figure. After an exposition repeat, Schubert subjects these themes to a brief development and standard recapitulation.
The Scherzo (Presto) is a rollicking piece in which a little piano fanfare launches a scurrying violin figure. The music lurches through some surprising key changes, often coming to a full stop before continuing with quite different material.
These high spirits dissipate in time for the Andantino, a mostly lyrical dialog that drifts from C major to D flat and ultimately A flat.
Finally comes the Allegro vivace, in which the spirit of the earlier scherzo returns, complete with a short, leaping motif to get the movement off to a joyful start. Again, the music is full of hesitations that signal new harmonic and melodic directions.
Here is Janine Jansen to play this gem for you:
