Whispers and Chants

I adore Schubert's 'Unfinished Symphony.' It was offered in thanks to the Styrian Music Society in Graz after he received an honourary diploma from that society, one of the few accolades that he received during his lifetime. Or rather, the first two movements were. He also sketched a scherzo, and the incidental music from 'Rosamunde' was performed at the London premiere as the finalé.

It remains a mystery why Schubert offered just the first two movements, but to any listener it seems obvious. He didn't need to 'complete' what he had written. It was, in fact, finished.

The first movement, mournful but with glimmers of hope seems almost ready to spill over into Shostakovich's 5th at certain points in the development section but then he reins in again to something similar to Mozart. Always sombre yet full of hope. 

It is one of the great pieces of art to come out of the nineteenth century.