A recital by May Blyth (soprano) and Ilona Kabos and Louis Kentner
(pianoforte duets)
ILONA KABOS AND LOUIS KENTNER
Fantasia in F minor
MAY BLYTH
Am Strome (By the River) Die Forelle (The Trout)
Grablied fiir die Mutter (A dirge) Ganymed
ILONA KABOS AND LOUIS KENTNER
Two Marches
1 March in G minor, Op. 40,
No. 2.
2 Characteristic March in C, Op.
121, No. 1
Most of Schubert's piano duets were composed for his friends, who usually played them with the composer as partner. Many of these pieces were written ' just for the fun of the thing '. This is particularly true of those on a smaller scale, such as the marches and polonaises. With few exceptions these are happy and care-free compositions, breathing the atmosphere of the gay circles in which the composer moved.
A more serious note is struck in the larger works, such as the F minor Fantasia dedicated to Schubert's young pupil, Countess Caroline Esterhazy, with whom (according to romantic legend) he was in love.
With Schubert the word ' fantasia ' does not necessarily indicate a loose, rambling composition; like the ' Wanderer ' Fantasia for piano solo, the F minor is one of his most important instrumental works.