Franz Schubert's Piano Sonata in A-flat major D 557 was composed in May 1817.
The work is relatively short and a performance takes somewhat between 10 and 15 minutes. The sonata is cheerful and uncomplicated, and carries remembrances of Mozart and the Baroque era. [1]
The fact that the last movement is in the key of E-flat major rather than the tonic key of A-flat major is evidence in favor of Schubert possibly intending to add a fourth movement, although the extant third movement has much of the character of a finale. At the time this was written it was quite unusual to end a composition in another key than its tonic, however Schubert did do this in some of his early works, e.g. D. 553 ("Auf der Donau", beginning in E-flat major and ending in F-sharp minor). [3]
The sonata was first published in 1888, in the Breitkopf & Härtel complete edition.
The autograph of the sonata, dated May 1817, is incomplete — it stops at the 28th measure of the third movement, but there is a contemporary complete manuscript. [2]
D. 557 was first published in 1888 as No. 3 of the Piano Sonatas volume (Series X) of the Kritisch durchgesehene Gesammtausgabe. [2]
Both Paul Badura-Skoda (Henle) and Martino Tirimo (Wiener Urtext) published an Urtext edition in 1997. [3] [4]
In the New Schubert Edition D. 557 is given in VII/2/1. [5]
The Piano Sonata in E major, D 157 is a piano sonata with three movements composed by Franz Schubert in February 1815. The Allegro D 154 is an early version of its first movement.
The Piano Sonata in C major, D 279 is a piano sonata composed by Franz Schubert in September 1815. The sonata has three movements and is regarded as incomplete for lacking a fourth movement. D. 346, an unfinished Allegretto in C major, has been suggested as its final movement.
Sonatas, duos and fantasies by Franz Schubert include all works for solo piano by Franz Schubert, except separate dances. They also include a number of works for two players: piano four hands, or piano and a string instrument.
| Piano sonatas (2 hands) by Franz Schubert | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sonata in C major (D. 279) | AGA, Series 10 (15 sonatas) No. 3 | Succeeded by Sonata in E minor (D. 566) |
| Preceded by Sonata in A minor (D. 537) | 21 Sonatas numbering system No. 5 | |
| 23 Sonatas numbering system No. 6 | ||
