In grauen Stunden

An die Musik by Franz Schubert (Op. 88 No. 4) is one of the ten compositions that would take me to a lonely island, because in his notes summarize something as essential as love for the music itself. Its title is taken from one of the emotive verses by Franz von Schober, which presents music as the best therapy for the gray hours - «grauen Stunden» - that punctuate our existence.

I chose the clarinet because it is a very capable instrument to sing this beautiful song as is required, while it can set bright contrasts in the paraphrased passages.

This piece was released by Jesus Villa Rojo -to whom is dedicated- and Gerardo Lopez Laguna, in the XX Music Festival XX Century in Bilbao on November 23th, 1999. In grauen Stunden was composed between 1996 and 1998, between Spain and the Philippines.