Expert: David Froom - 3/15/2008

Question
Hello,

I've seen questions pertaining to the music on the RL website, but none request identification of this:http://www.ralphlaurenhome.com/rlhome/collection/laboheme.asp

Can you identify it?


Answer
Hi Leslie,

Yes, I can identify it.  It is an arrangement for piano solo of the second movement (Andante con moto) of Schubert's Piano Trio #2 in E flat major, Op. 100, D. 929.  That 10-minute movement (piano trio is piano with violin and cello) is fabulous.  You should hear it in the original.  The RL piano solo version will sound pale and weak in comparison.

My guess is that RL paid someone to arrange this to avoid paying royalties to a piano trio for using their recording.  The music itself, of course, is public domain.

You can find this easily.  It has been recorded many, many times.  The whole trio is wonderful.  This slow movement is special.  You can find it either at a local library, or from one of the many classical music web sites (anything from Amazon to iTunes).   I like best the version recorded as part of the Rubinstein collection (it is amazing how different the different recordings are).  

The other RL selections people have asked me to identify were not classical music, but instead, modern commercially composed imitations.  This one is a famous piece.  

David Froom