The Viennese composer Franz Schubert (1797–1828) learned to play the piano, violin and viola as a boy, even performing the viola in the family string quartet. Although he lived for just thirty-one years, he became one of the earliest and most influential composers of the Romantic era, building on the Classical traditions of Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven while developing a uniquely lyrical and expressive musical voice.

Schubert possessed an extraordinary gift for melody, earning him a lasting reputation as one of history’s greatest song composers. That same gift is equally evident in his piano music, particularly the Moments Musicaux and Impromptus, collections of short character pieces that combine graceful lyricism with remarkable emotional depth.

This volume brings together five of Schubert’s most cherished miniatures. It includes the elegant Valse sentimentale, three contrasting Moments Musicaux from Op. 94, and the lyrical Impromptu in A-flat major, Op. 142 No. 2. Each displays Schubert’s remarkable ability to express profound feeling with apparent simplicity, making these works enduring favourites of pianists and audiences alike.

This new edition has been freshly engraved and meticulously edited in keeping with the ethos of the Simplest Series: to provide piano students with carefully chosen repertoire, presented clearly and without unnecessary distractions, offering excellent value and, above all, outstanding playability.

Contents

Valse Sentimentale D779 Op 50 No. 13
Moments Musicaux D780 Op. 94 No. 1
Moments Musicaux D780 Op. 94 No. 3
Moments Musicaux D780 Op. 94 No. 6
Impromptu D935 Op. 142 (posthumous) No. 2