Schubert, F.: Piano Sonata No. 20, D. 959 / 6 Moments Musicaux, D. 780

Featuring

Martin Helmchen
Franz Schubert

Did you know?

1/7

Compositional Technique

In his late piano sonatas, Schubert avoided the thematic duality and excessive motivic passagework characteristic of Beethoven, opting instead for a modern flow of melodies and harmonies.

Composition History

The collection of Moments musicaux D. 780, comprising six short piano pieces, was published in the year of Schubert's death, 1828, under the grammatically incorrect title 'Moments musicals'.

Compositional Technique

The Moments musicaux, while less technically difficult, showcase Schubert's typical alternation between major and minor keys and feature unexpected mood changes.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Schubert's three late sonatas are interpreted by Peter Gülke as a 'description of the situation in which composition found itself following the death of Beethoven'.

Composition History

Franz Schubert's three late piano sonatas, including D.959 on this album, were not published until 1839, more than 10 years after his death.

Recording & Production

Polyhymnia International, the recording facility for this album, was founded in 1998 by key personnel from the former Philips Classics Recording Center.