shubert arpeggione

[camCARV03]

Im interested in playing this sonata. For those who have played this, where would this piece stack among others in terms of difficulty?

[kurt muroki]

well its a very hard piece both technically and musically. (for everyones information) It was written for an outdated instrument:

The arpeggione is a six-stringed musical instrument, fretted and tuned like a guitar, but bowed like a cello, and thus similar to the bass viola da gamba.

It enjoyed a brief vogue, perhaps a decade, after its invention around 1823, by the Viennese guitar maker Johann Georg Staufer (1778-1853). The only notable piece extant for the instrument is a sonata with piano accompaniment by Franz Schubert, D.821, not published until 1871, when the arpeggione was long defunct.

Nice piece, it's important to make it sound effortless.

[Cory Palmer]

It's one of the more difficult pieces in the double bass repertoire. I played it on a recital this past November. The other pieces on the program were Misek Sonata No. 2, Bach Gamba Sonata No. 2, and Motivy by Emil Tabakov. The Arpeggione Sonata was more difficult than Motivy and Bach and about as difficult as Misek.

Like Kurt said it's difficult technically and musically. It is a very rewarding piece once you get past the technical difficulties.

[Simandl Fan]

It seems to go on forever! It's a real test of endurance. The first movement alone is the equal of many other full works. Nevertheless, it is a marvelous work, and well worth the study. Schubert loved melodies and there are tunes a'plenty in this work. Just watch the misprint if you use the International edition (mm. 65-69, mvt 2 should be in D major)