Quintet for Piano, Violin, Viola, Violincello, and Double Bass in A Maj., Op. posth. 114, D. 667 (”The Trout”), Mvmt 2 by Franz Schubert
“Echapée, changement, glissade, pas de chat, arabesque, pasé, down, chaine, step. Again!”
Rachel gazed longingly at the slender muscular legs flying back and forth with perfect precision, the colorful leotards flying across the small practice space. Feet arched upon their toes in graceful lines, the arc of supple arms extending to gentle fingers flashed and flew back and forth as the dancers drifted across the room, and ran back to the other end to do the routine again.
“Good! Now tomorrow I just want to see the girls in the chorus and the day after that, Alice, you’ll start your part. Good night.”
The girls bowed gently to their teacher and then turned to curtsey to the piano player in the corner of the room. He bowed his head gently while gathering his music. Rachel sighed and patted her legs longingly. The girls filed past her, some smiling if they saw her, others just walking past, chattering about various aches and pains.
“Ready Rachel?” her sister asked her, coming out of the studio with her dance bag on her shoulder.
“I guess so.”
“I’m going to have to give Daniel a ride first, ok?”
“Yeah.”
“I’m sorry,” Rachel’s sister brushed her fingers through Rachel’s hair. “I wish you didn’t have to come.”
“No it’s fine,” Rachel said, wheeling her self in her wheel chair to the main lobby of the studio. “I love to watch.”
“I know,” her sister said with a sigh. “And sometimes I wish you could be there with me.”
Rachel smiled. “But I am there, aren’t I? In your heart.”
“Yes, you are. When did you get so wise, you little squirt?”
“Well I couldn’t walk…I had to get the brains.”
Rachel’s sister laughed. “Oh, I see.”
“You know,” Rachel’s sister said after a silence, “I dance for you when I’m on stage. I think of you watching in the audience and I just sort of…do the best I can. I might not be as good as Alice, but…”
“You’re better than Alice to me, and that’s all that counts.”
Daniel came out of the studio with his music under his arm and sighed. “Oh, hey, Rach.”
“Hi, Dan,” Rachel said, smiling wide. “Let’s go.”
Rachel’s sister smiled and pushed the wheelchair out of the studio and to their car waiting on the street for them.
(Listen to the song (it starts about 33 seconds in). And if you are interested, because it’s quite interesting: parts of a Documentary of Itzhak Perlman playing this song in London. Part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4 (which is the same link if you want to listen to just the second movement), part 5, and part 6)
