The anniversary of Caroline Esterházy’s death

Schubert’s autograph manuscript (bars 1-24) of „Erlkönig“ opus 1 (1815/20) - 3rd version

From Franz Schubert‘s (1797-1828) several drafts of the ballad "Erlkönig" D328, this 3rd version is the most interesting one for me personally.

​The triplets, which pianists should put a lot of effort into, have been changed to eighth notes (!), indicating the fearfully pounding heart rather than the stormy riding. The dynamics too, instead of playing forte at the beginning, as we are used to, here it starts from afar in the mysterious, almost creepy pianissimo.

When talking about Schubert, one must not forget the ingeniousness of his "Fantasia in f minor D940 for piano four-hands" (March 1828) and its secret.
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On November 19, 1828, the 31-year-old composer had an appointment to take a composition lesson with the music theorist Simon Sechter in Vienna, but this could no longer take place. That day Schubert was on his deathbed.
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Listen to his magnificent double fugue of the Fantasia in f minor! How astonishing that this great genius, nevertheless, wanted to continue learning.

The posthumously published first edition of the Fantasia was dedicated to Caroline Esterházy, a young noblewoman with whom Schubert fell in love, as many of his friends at the time claimed. The following anecdote has been passed down.
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When the Countess Caroline once teased the composer that he had never dedicated a piece of his music to her, he replied: “Why? Everything is dedicated to you, anyway!“

Today, March 14 is the death anniversary of Caroline Esterházy.
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