Schubert, four-hand piano / Rondo in A

On March 26, 1828, eight months before his death, Franz Schubert was honored in Vienna by his circle of friends with a concert devoted entirely to his music, and for the artist's benefit. It was the first and the last. Almost simultaneously, Niccolo Paganini began his concert marathon in the capital of the Habsburg Empire. Beginning three days after the tribute to Schubert and ending on July 24, the violinist stuffed the Viennese with fourteen recitals. The press did not tire of singing the praises of the "Paganini phenomenon", but dedicated only a couple of lines to his fellow countryman Franz Schubert.

Franz Schubert (1797 - 1828)

The tribute concert had been a great success, even though a large part of the audience was not familiar with the composer's works. A similar apathy had been the trend among music publishers until not so long ago. It was only in about 1822 that publishers began to show a somewhat waning interest in publishing the little master's music. The response of the publisher Peters to a letter from Franz's friends requesting the publication of some of his pieces is famous: "My interest is focused on already established artists... the mission of revealing new talents is for someone else...".

Domenico, a gentle publisher
But in 1828, Schubert had long had a publisher: the Artaria House. The master had learned to deal with such circumstances, and also with his precarious health, very weakened as a result of syphilis contracted seven years earlier. Against all odds, that last year saw the birth of some of his best works: the last three Piano Sonatas, the Fantasy in F minor, and the remarkable and famous Serenade, among others. Domenico Artaria, the publisher, then felt the need to request a small work for piano four hands... the fortepiano, recently introduced in the salons of the rising bourgeoisie, was crying out for a piece for the enjoyment of the family.

Rondo in A major, D 951
Commenced in June of that year, Schubert's last work for piano four hands was published the month after his death, under the title "Grand Rondo".
The work does not soar to great heights but neither does it reveal a melancholy mood, which might have been expected. In its twelve-minute length, Schubert returns to a period when he wrote little gems for himself and his friends, to simply enjoy them in a pleasant evening. For the same reason, the work does not present insurmountable difficulties for either the performers or the listener.

The rendition is by the great Argentine maestros Martha Argerich and Daniel Barenboim.