Description
Franz Schubert left an unparalleled body of work for piano four-hands, with a total of 54 compositions (32 of which have opus numbers). This repertoire encompasses a wide range of genres, including fantasies, dances, marches, variations, rondos, and sonatas. Playing music together, often in a social setting, was a cherished pastime among Schubert's circle of friends, with the young composer providing the musical backdrop for these lively concerts and exuberant performances.
The three Henle Urtext volumes showcase Schubert's extensive piano duets, presented in chronological order. Volume I contains three very early pieces from 1810-1813, while the majority of the works stem predominantly from 1818, including the magnificent Grande Sonate in B-flat major, D 617. The final section features two pieces that are more difficult to date precisely, one of which, the Allegro Moderato und Andante, D 968, was occasionally referred to as a "Sonatine" and was likely written for instructional purposes.
