Franz Schubert
Impromptu
in G-flat Major, Op. 90 No. 3
This extraordinarily beautiful, song-like piece - the ultimate example of Schubert's overflowing Romantic melodiousness - demands great cantabile technique and control of different layers of sound.
Year: 1827
Period: Early Romantic
Piano score: PS Urtext 
Audiovisual Study Tool
Lovely Meadows of G-flat Major
Schubert’s serene G-flat Impromptu has a stunning, dreamy melody flowing over the subdued agitation of rolling chords, which continue until the final pianissimo. Interestingly, the lyrical line is visually stretched through Schubert’s ingenious use of a rare "double all breve" or 4/2 time signature, with the half-note receiving a beat and four such beats in each measure. If the piece were written in 4/4 time, the rolling arpeggios would be double-barred 16th notes, and the page would look crowded and tense rather than relaxed and languid. The middle section becomes more agitated with sharply accented bass notes as the composer’s mind wanders afield before returning to the lovely meadows of G-Flat Major.Background
The four Impromptus, Op. 90 (D. 899) were probably composed at least in part during the composer's stay in Dornbach in the summer of 1827, just over a year before his death. The first two went to press in late 1827; it wasn't until 1857 that Nos. 3 and 4 appeared in print. Moreover, the G-flat Impromptu was transposed and printed by the publisher in G major, and for a long time remained available only in this key.Forum posts about this piece:
What to look for in a teacher? by pianofourty
Hello! I'm new to Piano Forum and am hoping I can get some advice. I completed grade 8 as a teen, and sat the ATCL after starting college. In hindsight, it was a rubbish decision because...
Accessible duo works with piano parts by irrational
Hi. I would really like to learn some works playable with another player in preparation perhaps for a long future concerto work. There are some great sonatas and other works, but I am not sure...
"Cantabile" pieces by piulento
Hi there, I'm looking for a song-like piece to mainly work on my musical touch and sound (not looking to work too much on technique for this specific piece). Some ideas I had - Mendelssohn's...
Your Favorite Pieces by chopinawesome
I think the most beautiful piece I heard of is Schubert Impromptu in G Flat Major Op.90 no.3 www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyzUc2vC4JI My favorite pieces are Chopin Fantasie...
Performing a piece that´s upper limit of your abilities on concert/masterclass? by juliaalessandra
Hi everyone, I am new here and am from Austria, so please don´t look too close at my language/writing. Thanks. ;) I am a 24 year old Medicine student who is a passionate pianist in her...
Schubert - Op. 90 No. 3 by hermanberntzen
Witch Grade is Schubert - Op. 90 No. 3...
where can i get the notes of schubert impromptu opus 90 number 3 by nirklinger
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Schubert Impromptu 90 n.3 (for small hands) by danny elfboy
I was wondering how a child, student or piano concertist with small hands would tackle this piece where the problem is holding the melody note with the pinky while the other fingers spread to play intervals of...
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Impromptu in G-flat Major - Op. 90 No. 3 is a piano piece by the early romantic composer Franz Schubert who lived between the years 1797 and 1828.
It is written during the Early Romantic era and is included in Impromptus by Schubert.