Impromptu in F minor Op. 142 No. 1 (D. 935)

Franz Schubert · Level 6 (Expert) · Romantic · Piano

The first impromptu of the second set (1827), almost a sonata form: a dramatic F minor opening, then a long episode where the hands cross in dialogue over continuous arpeggios. A piece by Schubert, master of the Lied, whose piano writing sings like a voice. F minor, 4/4, 249 bars (about 17 minutes), complete score.

▶ Play this piece with the interactive score

How to practise it

• Listen first: the site plays it while the score scrolls.
• Wait mode: the score waits for you at every note, at your own pace.
• Tempo challenge: play in time, with a score and a map of the bars you got right.
• In the central episode the left hand crosses over the right to place the melody notes: move it early and keep the sixteenths perfectly even. Let the melody sing and keep the accompaniment very steady and light. Key signature with 4 flats: name them aloud before playing and spot the places where accidentals cancel them. One hand sometimes plays two voices: hold the long notes for their full value and let the main line sing louder than the accompaniment.

More pieces by Franz Schubert

• Hungarian Melody in B minor (D. 817)
• Impromptu in A-flat major Op. 90 No. 4 (D. 899)
• Moment Musical No. 3 in F minor (D. 780)
• Impromptu in C minor Op. 90 No. 1 (D. 899)
• Impromptu in G-flat major Op. 90 No. 3 (D. 899)
• Trois Marches militaires (D.733-1 (Op. 51))
• Trois Marches militaires (D.733-2 (Op. 51))
• Trois Marches militaires (D.733-3 (Op. 51))

Source : Mutopia Project · Public Domain