Description

The large and technically demanding G major Sonata was composed two years before Schubert's death in October 1826 and is one of only three piano sonatas that appeared in print during his lifetime. The unusual title of the first edition, "Fantasie, Andante, Menuetto und Allegretto," stems from the publisher Haslinger and is likely due to the dreamy, melancholy mood of the first movement, which differed from traditional sonata first-movement concepts. This "Fantasy-Sonata," as it is often called, later inspired composers like Franz Liszt and Robert Schumann with its free, romantic nature, which they described as consummate "in form and spirit." For this Urtext edition, the editors thoroughly re-examined all known sources, including the autograph in the British Library, resulting in a clear, authoritative musical engraving. The preface by Schubert expert Andrea Lindmayr-Brandl and detailed commentary provide comprehensive information about the work's genesis and sources. Additionally, pianist Martin Helmchen has provided fingerings as a further enhancement.