Schumann: Piano Quartet in E-Flat Major, Op. 47; Schubert: Variations for Flute and Piano, D. 802

ROBERT SCHUMANN (1810-1856) 

Quartet for Piano and Strings in E-Flat Major, Op. 47 
1. Sostenuto assai. Allegro ma non troppo 
2. Scherzo: Molto vivace 
3. Andante cantabile 
4. Finale: Vivace 

Jaime Laredo, Violin 
Walter Trampler, Viola 
Leslie Parnas, Violoncello 
Richard Goode, Piano 

FRANZ SCHUBERT (1797-1828) 
Variations for Flute and Piano, D. 802 
(On "Trockne Blumen" from Die schone Mullerin, D. 795) 

Paula Robison, Flute 
Richard Goode, Piano

In 1842, Schumann turned his attention to the composition of chamber music. By June of that year he had completed three string quartets -- the Quartet in A Minor, Op.41, No. 1; the Quartet in F Major, Op. 41, No. 2; and the Quartet in A Major, Op. 41, No. 3 -- which he dedicated to Mendelssohn. In September and October he worked on the Piano Quintet in E-flat Major, Op. 44. Clara Schumann was the pianist at the first performance and it is to her that the composition is dedicated. 

On October 24, work was begun on the Quartet for Piano and Strings in E-flat Major. Schumann labored over his last piece of chamber music from 1842 for about a month. The first public performance of the work took place at the Gewandhaus in Leipzig on December 8, 1844, with Clara at the piano. During the following year the quartet was published as Schumann's Opus 47. 

Aside from Schubert's artistic desire to write instrumental music in preparation for a "grand symphony,"   several  performers  may have influenced Schubert’s choice of medium. The great violinist, Ignaz Schuppanzigh, probably encouraged Schubert to write string quartets, for his group gave the first performance of the A minor Quartet on March 14. The Octet was commissioned by Count Troyer, who played the clarinet part in the first performance of the work. Finally, it has been assumed that Ferdinand Bogner, a virtuoso flutist and an acquaintance of Schubert, requested a composition for the flute. 

The Variations for Flute and Piano, D. 802 are based on Schubert's song "Trockne Blumen" from the cycle Die schone Mullerin, D. 795. The cycle had been composed during the fall of the previous year and was published in five volumes during the course of 1824 -- "Trockne Blumen” was included in the last volume, which appeared in August.