MUSI3041 Assignment#5----Sasa

Trout Quintet in A major, 4th movement- Schubert

The Trout is originally a poem by the German poet Schubert, and Schubert adapted it into a quintet. This work seems to be about a small trout, but I think it is actually a musical depiction of the natural environment to express the poet's feelings of longing for freedom in prison. The piece consists of a motive on a theme plus five variations and a finale.

The opening minute is the theme of the piece, which is played by the violin. The melody is light and lively, creatingthe image of a free little trout in a deep mountain stream.

First Variation (1:10~2:10)

The theme is played in the high register of the piano, and that clear and pleasant sound is coupled with the arpeggios of the strings running through the six consecutive notes. We seem to see the cheerful mood and lively figure of the little trout, jumping happily in the clear stream.

Second Variation (2:11~3:16)

The theme melody appears on the viola, which sings smoothly as if it were the little trout's relaxed figure. The cello plays the sub-melody, while the piano complements the space in each phrase like an echo. The continuous progression of six consecutive notes in the high register of the violin, sometimes in steps, sometimes with arpeggios, sometimes tumbling up and down, depicts the little trout swimming in another scene in the water, as if singing happily. 

Third Variation (3:17~4:07)

Suddenly, the melody of the theme moves further down, with the double bass and cello playing the main roles, and the thick and heavy melody makes me feel the scene: the fisherman walks into the stream, his body blocking the sunlight, and the small trout is shrouded in shadow. The piano plays a series of thirty-two notes rolling up and down, and the violin and viola play rapid rhythmic patterns, as if the appearance of the fisherman makes the whole atmosphere become depressing, and the little trout senses uneasiness, it panics and runs around in the water, trying to leave the place.

Fourth Variation (4:08~5:14)

The violin begins with two strong tones, alternating between six-linked tones and impassioned jumping-in tones in different voices The violin is like the poor little trout, while the rough chords on the piano are like the brutal fisherman. The fisherman muddies the water and the little trout struggles painfully on the hook, embodying the grief.

Fifth Variation (5:15~7:06)

The tempo of the music becomes slow and the theme melody is played by the cello in the lead. The low and slow sound of the cello resembles the painful mood of the author, who mourns with sympathy and compassion for the suffering of the little trout.

It could have ended here at seven minutes and seven seconds, just like the original poem "The Trout", with tragedy, but Schubert did not want to do so, even though he was facing the cold eyes and persecution from the society, he still wanted the world to be a beautiful place. So Schubert presents the beautiful scene in the finale, as if the little trout is in heaven, where it no longer has to worry about its life and live a carefree and happy life.