Masterpieces by Franz Schubert: Sparkling classical works left by the King of Song. Recommended classical music.
Franz Schubert, the Austrian composer hailed as the “King of Song” for leaving behind more than 600 lieder, including masterpieces such as Erlkönig and Ave Maria.
Schubert is known not only for his many celebrated songs, but also for his wide-ranging output in solo piano works, symphonies, and chamber music.
In this article, we’ve handpicked Schubert’s most popular pieces as well as hidden gems beloved by devoted classical-music aficionados.
We present a selection of sparkling works infused with the spirit of a musician who composed throughout his life.
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Franz Schubert’s Masterpieces: Sparkling Classical Works Left by the King of Song. Recommended Classical Music (61–70)
Symphony No. 8 in B minor, D. 759 “Unfinished”Franz Schubert
Schubert was an Austrian composer.
No one knows why his Symphony No.
8 in B minor is unfinished.
Schubert handed the score of the unfinished Symphony No.
8 in B minor to his friend Hüttenbrenner.
About forty years later, Hüttenbrenner found the incomplete score at the back of a desk drawer and gave it to Johann Herbeck, the conductor of the Vienna Philharmonic, where it received great acclaim at its Vienna premiere in 1865.
Impromptu, Op. 90 No. 4Franz Schubert
An impromptu by Franz Schubert, captivating for its graceful melodies and richly expressive harmonies.
Composed in 1827, this work is renowned as a masterpiece that epitomizes Schubert’s mature period.
It begins with arpeggios, and in the middle section the tonality shifts, drawing listeners into a dreamlike musical journey.
Its delicate yet powerful melody will further enhance the performer’s expressive range.
It’s also a highly recommended piece for those looking to refine their piano technique.
String Quartet No. 14 in D minor, D 810 “Death and the Maiden”, Fourth MovementFranz Schubert
The year before 1824, when Schubert is said to have begun this work, he suffered from ill health, and perhaps as a result, all four movements are written in a minor key, giving the piece a distinctly sorrowful mood.
The work was officially published two and a half years after Schubert’s death.
The urgent, tarantella-like finale is striking for its powerful character, with dramatic melodies woven throughout.
Because the second movement quotes the melody of his famous song “Der Tod und das Mädchen” (Death and the Maiden), this piece is also affectionately known as “Death and the Maiden.”
wild roseFranz Schubert
Heidenröslein is a song in which Franz Schubert set music to a poem by the German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
It is well known in Japan and is used for school chimes and train departure melodies.
Many people may have sung it with the Japanese lyrics that begin “Warabe wa mitari.” Because the original song has a very simple melody, it is easy to play on the piano.
As you play gently, imagine the charm of a little wild rose blooming in the fields.
String Quartet No. 14 in D minor, D 810 “Death and the Maiden”Franz Schubert
It is a string quartet composed in 1824.
It was published posthumously in 1831.
Because it quotes the motif from Schubert’s song “Der Tod und das Mädchen” (Death and the Maiden), the quartet itself is also commonly known as “Death and the Maiden.” At the time, Schubert’s body was ravaged by illness.
From this work—whose every movement is written in a minor key—we can glimpse Schubert’s state of mind during that period.
Moments Musicaux D780 Op.94 No. 3Franz Schubert
The third piece from the six-piece piano collection Moments Musicaux is a piano work that many people encounter in everyday life, as it is often used in TV commercials.
It has also reportedly been used as incidental music in films and as a train departure melody.
Over a steady, unvarying left-hand accompaniment, an evocative right-hand melody built from chords unfolds.
While it’s performed at various tempos, a calm interpretation is also beautiful, so there’s no need to insist on speeding it up.
Enjoy playing it while savoring the piece’s noble atmosphere.
Piano Sonata No. 18 in G major, D 894, Op. 78 “Fantasy”Franz Schubert
Composed around 1826, when Franz Schubert was 28, this four-movement masterpiece is known as the “Fantasy Sonata,” a name derived from the word “Fantasia” written on its first edition.
While Schubert’s Piano Sonatas Nos.
19, 20, and 21 are especially famous, No.
18 is also highly popular.
Robert Schumann, a leading composer of the German Romantic tradition and a renowned critic, praised it as “perfect both in form and spirit.” Even today, this “Fantasy Sonata” is regarded as one of Schubert’s most esteemed works and is an essential part of a pianist’s repertoire.
It was the last work published during Schubert’s lifetime, and, true to a composer who wrote many songs and dances, it features not only great beauty but also movements that compellingly incorporate dance rhythms—making it a piece you’ll want to hear all the way to the end.
Four Impromptus, Op. 90, D. 899 No. 3 in G-flat majorFranz Schubert
Franz Schubert’s Four Impromptus, Op.
90, are piano solos composed in the final period of his life.
Among them, No.
3 is a very gentle and beautiful piece.
Perhaps because it was written a year before his death, its melody carries a certain poignancy, as if he had suddenly become aware of his own mortality.
A beautiful tune unfolds over the ceaseless right-hand arpeggios, moving calmly forward like a softly flowing brook.
Schubert adored Vienna.
When you listen to this piece, doesn’t it somehow evoke the Danube winding through Vienna’s forests and streets?
No. 13 from 34 Sentimental Waltzes, D 779 Op. 50Franz Schubert
Comprising 34 approachable, easy-to-play waltzes, the 34 Valses Sentimentales, D 779 Op.
50, offer a wealth of charm.
No.
13 combines brightness and brilliance with calmness, making it a pleasure to play.
Rather than rigidly adhering to the triple meter, aim for a higher level of performance by shaping the tempo with subtle rubato to follow the musical contours.
Ensure the beautiful melodic line sings clearly by maintaining a good balance between the hands and using the pedal effectively.
Four Impromptus, Op. 90, D. 899 No. 1 in C minorFranz Schubert
Composed in 1827 by Franz Schubert, a Viennese-born Austrian composer, this work is distinguished by its profound emotional expression and meticulous structure.
It possesses a majestic yet introspective atmosphere, with resonant, weighty harmonies and strikingly beautiful melodies.
Richly imbued with Schubert’s characteristic lyricism, it serves as an important bridge between the Classical and Romantic eras and remains beloved by many pianists today.
It’s a highly recommended piece not only for those interested in classical music, but also for any music fan seeking a beautiful, heart-stirring melody.