ZKV 24

 

ZKV24

 

It is the late 1950s. I am accompanying my father, who is playing a Schubert sonata for violin and piano. His violin is sonorous, the long and beautiful fingers of his left hand press firmly down on the strings, his bowing is vigorous, he sways in time with the music. And with a strange mixture of pleasure and exertion he grunts.

Among the works he loved most of all, Schubert figured prominently. And the two piano trios were always pencilled into the Radio Times when then were about to appear on the Third. We would listen together. Occasionally, just before a beloved entry, Pa would look over at me, lift the index finger of his left hand as if inviting me to hold my breath and give a slight smile.

I came to love both the Bb and Eb trios, so different yet two sides of the same coin. I later bought the old recording of Schneider, Casals and Horszowski, which we listened to together. And in the slow movement of the Eb trio Casals grunts, just like Pa.