![]() Hummel was a leading pianist, a pupil of Mozart, and a pioneering composer of the Romantic style (like Schubert himself). Schubert had intended the sonatas to be dedicated to Johann Nepomuk Hummel, whom he greatly admired. In the following year, Schubert's brother Ferdinand sold the sonatas' autographs to another publisher, Anton Diabelli, who would only publish them about ten years later, in 1838 or 1839. However, Probst was not interested in the sonatas, and by November 19, Schubert was dead. In a letter to Probst (one of his publishers), dated October 2, 1828, Schubert mentioned the sonatas amongst other works he had recently completed and wished to publish. The final sonata was completed on September 26, and two days later, Schubert played from the sonata trilogy at an evening gathering in Vienna. 956, and the songs published posthumously as the Schwanengesang collection (D. These months also saw the appearance of the Three Piano Pieces, D. Schubert probably began sketching the sonatas sometime around the spring months of 1828 the final versions were written in September. However, up until the last weeks of his life in November 1828, he continued to compose an extraordinary amount of music, including such masterpieces as the three last sonatas. At this stage he moved from the Vienna home of his friend Franz von Schober to his brother Ferdinand's house in the suburbs, following the advice of his doctor unfortunately, this may have actually worsened his condition. However, he seems to have led a relatively normal life until September 1828, when new symptoms such as effusions of blood appeared. ![]() Schubert had been struggling with syphilis since 1822–23, and suffered from weakness, headaches and dizziness. ![]() However, by the time the summer months arrived, Schubert was again short of money and had to cancel some journeys he had previously planned. In addition, two new German publishers took an interest in his works, leading to a short period of financial well-being. On March 26, 1828, together with other musicians in Vienna, Schubert gave a public concert of his own works, which was a great success and earned him a considerable profit. The last year of Schubert's life was marked by growing public acclaim for the composer's works, but also by the gradual deterioration of his health. Indeed, some researchers have suggested specific psychological narratives for the sonatas, based on historical evidence concerning the composer's life. They also contain specific allusions and similarities to other Schubert compositions, such as his Winterreise song cycle these connections point to turbulent emotions expressed in the sonatas, often understood as highly personal and autobiographical. Consequently, they are often regarded as a trilogy. Įach one of the three sonatas is cyclically intraconnected by diverse structural, harmonic and melodic elements tying together all movements, as well as interconnecting all three sonatas together. Schubert's last sonatas are now praised for that mature style, manifested in unique features such as a cyclical formal and tonal design, chamber music textures, and a rare depth of emotional expression. Nevertheless, musicological analysis has shown that they maintain a mature, individual style. In fact, the last sonatas contain distinct allusions and similarities to works by Beethoven, a composer Schubert venerated. One of the reasons for the long period of neglect of Schubert's piano sonatas seems to be their dismissal as structurally and dramatically inferior to the sonatas of Beethoven. They are part of the core piano repertoire, appearing regularly on concert programs and recordings. By the late 20th century, however, public and critical opinion had changed, and these sonatas are now considered among the most important of the composer's mature masterpieces. Like the rest of Schubert's piano sonatas, they were mostly neglected in the 19th century. They were written during the last months of his life, between the spring and autumn of 1828, but were not published until about ten years after his death, in 1838–39. Portrait by Anton Depauly, of Schubert at the end of his lifeįranz Schubert's last three piano sonatas, D 958, 959 and 960, are his last major compositions for solo piano.
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