Impromptu in A♭ major, Op. 90 No. 4

F. SchubertD. 899 No. 4

Key

Ab

Time

3/4

Tempo

♩=144

AO focus

AO2

Form

Impromptu — fourth of the four Op. 90 set. Cascading right-hand arpeggios in A♭ major open the piece (often misnotated as A♭ minor — the descending arpeggio creates that ambiguity). ABA, with a song-like central section.

Teaching points

• RH descending arpeggios — keep them even and quiet. The temptation is to crescendo on the descent; resist
• Tonal ambiguity — bar 1 sounds like A♭ minor (descending notes outline minor) but the harmony is A♭ major. Discuss this perceptual trick
• Practical: a Grade 8 / diploma piano standard. Many students underestimate the difficulty of staying quiet at speed