Oil painting of Schubert by Wilhelm August Rieder 1875 (public domain)

 

When people think of Franz Schubert, they perhaps most often think of his lieder – in particular the iconic song cycles, Die schöne Müllerin and Winterreise, which set the evocative words of German lyric poet Wilhelm Müller to music. Others might think of his instrumental works – the enigmatic Unfinished Symphony or deeply expressive chamber works such as Death and the Maiden or the Trout Quintet.

Amidst these more famous compositions, Schubert’s solo piano repertoire is sometimes overlooked, despite containing some of his most intricately crafted and emotionally sincere music. From the lyrical brilliance of the Impromptus and Moments Musicaux to the profound depth of his final piano sonatas, these works reveal a composer at the height of his expressive powers.

Not sure where to start exploring this repertoire?

We have picked out 5 of our favourite piano pieces by Schubert for intermediate to advanced level pianists to explore.

 

1. Ländler

A folk dance in 3/4 time that became popular in 19^th century Europe, the Ländler was a fertile source of inspiration for the Austrian composer. These exquisitely crafted miniature pieces are perfect for early intermediate level pianists, with a variety of different moods and characters.

We recommend: 17 Ländler, D366

 

2. Moments Musicaux

Published in 1828, the last year of Schubert’s life, the six Moments Musicaux are now some of his best-loved works. As the title suggests, these are snapshots of a particular character or mood – each under 10 minutes yet intricately constructed and full of emotional depth.  

We recommend: No. 3 in F minor, also known as ‘Air Russe’

 

3. Impromptus

Along with the Moments Musicaux, the Impromptus are some of Schubert’s most well-known works. From the pealing arpeggios of the A-flat major to the serene beauty of the G-flat major, these Impromptus have been recorded by many of the great pianists of the past century and have been frequently used in film and TV soundtracks.  

We recommend: Schubert Impromptu Op. 90 in G-flat major

Impromptu No. 4 in Ab, original manuscript, accessed via IMSLP (public domain)

 

4. Drei Klavierstücke

These lyrical and intimate works were written in the last year of Schubert’s life. Dated May 1928 but not published until they were collected and edited (anonymously) by Johannes Brahms some 40 years later, they are often overlooked in favour of the Impromptus and Moments Musicaux. The most famous of the three, in E-flat major, lasts just under 10 minutes, and alternates between sections of serene melody and tumultuous storms.

We recommend: Klavierstücke No. 2 in E-flat major

 

5. Piano Sonatas

Schubert wrote fourteen complete and several unfinished piano sonatas during his lifetime. The last three piano sonatas were written during the final months of his life in the summer of 1828 but were not published until around ten years later. They are works of immense depth and intensity, with moments of aching darkness but also glimpses of light and hope.

We recommend: Piano Sonata No. 21 in B flat major, Second movement – Adagio

 

Want to keep exploring?

Discover more of Schubert’s piano music in our Masterpieces for Piano collection. Expertly curated by Roland Erben and arranged in progressive order of difficulty, this is the perfect collection to get you started.

You can also listen to our accompanying playlist on Spotify.