Schubert's EPIC "Wanderer" Fantasy in C major, Op. 15 - Analysis

[@SonataSecrets]

If you're wondering (!) about the marks and fingerings in the score as shown in the video, I have made them available in a "Henrik Kilhamn Edition" here: sonatasecrets.gumroad.com/l/hke-schubertwandererfantasy (N.B. not to be confused with the Simple Solutions Edition for the Intermediate Pianist - this is only for advanced pianists ready to tackle the original anyway)

[@Dan474834]

Great stuff. Please do some orchestral analysis, some Wagner or Mahler.

[@nimi3361]

You just gotta love this man's analysis ❤

[@Aucupium]

Thank you for this. Its a piece I first heard in 1974 in a car aged 17 on BBC Radio3 Record Review. It was my opening in to Schubert - the pianist was Brendel and through that record Schubert and his piano works have been a part of my life to keep returning to and try and play what I could as well as listen. So your taking the piece to pieces was like a walk down memory lane, but in this instance making sense of what I was familiar with. Many thanks.

[@andreottiriccardo4463]

Every video you make is so good that gets me to study piano more, thanks👏👏

[@currawong2011]

Being only a listener rather than a player, you have very much increased my understanding and appreciation for this work I hope to hear more from you.

[@djtomt]

Your expression of passion for the work is inspiring and your playing is magnificent!

[@bachouvenn3563]

I like how you said that some parts were really tough but you nailed them flawlessly lol

[@craggyisland8770]

Great job with this juggernaut. Schubert is the major minor shift GOAT no doubt

[@JokerThe1994]

If this video does not deserve a like, I would not know which one does. Thank you for posting this great work on a true beast of a piece - I love the struggle and joy of playing it myself and you really did it justice with this condensed, yet precise analysis and playing! Hats off to you!

[@DottoreSM]

OMG i had been waiting for this piece since forever (without realizing)

[@jimjohn2652]

I didn't know this fantasy of Schubert's. Really beautiful music

[@woodyb97]

Epic analysis to this masterpiece!

[@enriqueernesto738]

Thanks a lot for your analysis and youre inspiration to search for feasable solutions to make the peace more playable

[@SonataSecrets]

Thanks, appreciate it! :)

[@Mazurking]

Thank you for the analysis!

[@yoyichen4470]

I really enjoyed your analysis and it's a good resource for learning music theory. Thank you!

[@pedrocosta3311]

Congratulations for all your work! Great channel, and I pretend to watch all the videos.

[@caterscarrots3407]

That ending that just doesn't want to end, essentially elaborating and repeating a C major cadence, it reminds me a bit of the coda of the finale of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony where a similar thing happens, with repeated V7 I cadences over and over and then it turns into just the I chord getting repeated until the very final whole note chord is reached, with a fermata to indicate "This is finally the end of this dramatic symphony".

[@natalielangenheim5677]

Very great! Many thanks! This is not easy!!

[@michaelacord228]

Beautiful analysis, as usual.

[@wenhaoyang969]

how did Schubert write something like this as a relatively young person? unbelievable

[@-ys7wr]

Fantastic!!!!

[@gmnotyet]

Quick question: what was the part that Schubert could not actually play on the piano? "Let the Devil himself play this!" Is it 34:30?

[@SonataSecrets]

I don't know for sure, it seems to emanate from this source, a Schubert biography from 1905: archive.org/details/schubert00duncgoog/page/n190/mode/2up "There is an amusing incident recorded of Schubert's performance of his Fantasia in C major (op. 15) - a work which every student may know is not to be trifled with. Schubert was playing this composition to an audience of friends, among whom were Kupelwieser, Spaun and Gahy. The first part of the piece had been successfully tackled, and the middle portion expressively played; the player also survived Part iii. Then, with the impetuous finale, came disaster. He played it at full speed, with ever-increasing energy; but - alas - he was riding for a fall. This soon came, for he suddenly stuck fast in the middle of the movement. The story adds that Schubert rose hastily firom his seat, and invoked infernal aid in the following terms, "Let the devil himself play the stuff."" My guess would be when the subject comes back again in ff (36:05), really incomfortably written to play those intricate 16th notes with fortissimo power...

[@gmnotyet]

@@SonataSecrets Thank you. Great playing, Outstanding video.

[@kristian6566]

As you upload less frequently, each video feels even more like a treat. Great stuff! And about the difficulty: I am quite sure I read somewhere that even Liszt himself rewrote some sections, particularly in the final movement. Because Schubert was not an amazing pianist himself (as you pointed out), he may not have realized that certain parts are more or less unplayable.

[@SonataSecrets]

That is correct, there is a Liszt version with quite extensive rewrites, but some of them feel quite a bit different than Schubert's musical ideas... But it's saying something that even Liszt didn't want to play them as written!

[@kristian6566]

@@SonataSecrets Thanks for replying, will check it out if I can

[@ciararespect4296]

Brilliant choice. All your music choices are pieces dear to my heart although I don't necessarily understand all the harmonic discussion i like listening to it. What i get most us slowing down the vids and watching the fingering 😂. The crossing hands at the end is a great help. A lot of choosing fingering is a real chore at times as I'm self taught. And its slower progress than having a teacher who knows these pieces and can give quick advice on fingering I know everyone's hand us different and with experience fingering sometimes comes naturally but I still like watching vids of pieces i want to play and the fingering used (although a lot of videos don't show it apart from maybe overhead camera ones.

[@SonataSecrets]

I'm glad you like to watch :) Finding the right fingering is definitely an important part of piano playing and technique. I've found that the more I've played and practiced, the easier it comes to find and decide on what fingerings suit my hand. It's great that you see what other pianists use, imitation is the basis for learning, but ideally you should also have a teacher check what you're doing a bit.

[@gmnotyet]

At some point could you please cover the 3rd movement of the Moonlight Sonata?

[@isaacshaw1596]

Hi love your context and a wonderful player! I would love to send you one of my pieces to look at if you are up for that?

[@axelcastillo5245]

OMG esto va a ser épico papus

[@jaypeej7830]

This piece is hugely influential to Liszt. In fact, Liszt Sonata in B Minor is modeled after it.

[@bw2082]

I find the Liszt transcription is more pianistic and in many ways slightly easier than the original.