No other great composer has left so many works for piano four-hands as Franz Schubert – altogether 54 (32 of these with opus number): fantasies, dances, marches, variations, rondos, sonatas, etc. Playing music together, often in a social circle, was a precious pastime of Schubert's circle of friends. The young composer provided the musical background for these rousing concerts and exuberant performances. The pieces are chronologically arranged in the three Henle Urtext volumes showcasing Schubert's piano duets.
Volume II contains a total of altogether 26 pieces, 19 of which are comprised of four opera with three, four and six individual pieces: Trois marches militaires, four Ländler as well as Grandes Marches et Trios and Polonaises respectively. They date from the years 1818 to 1826. The unchallenged favorite in this book is the C major Sonata D 812 of the year 1824, also called Grand Duo. However, without wanting to diminish the status of the other pieces, we should point out that all seven marches are splendid compositions.
Song List
Schubert: “Grand Duo” C major op. post. 140 D 812
Schubert: 3 Marches Militaires D major, G major, E flat major op. 51 D 733
Schubert: 4 “L–ndler” E flat major, A flat major, C minor, C major D 814
Schubert: 6 Grandes Marches et Trios E flat, g, h, D, E flat, E op. 40 D 819
Schubert: 6 Polonaises D minor, F major, B flat major, D major, A major, E major op. 61 D 824
Schubert: Divertissement on a French motif e minor op. 63,1 D 823
Schubert: Divertissement on a French motif e minor op. 84,2 D 823
Schubert: Divertissement on a French motif b minor op. 84,1 D 823
Schubert: Divertissement la Hongroise g minor op. 54 D 818
Schubert: Grand funeral March c minor op. 55 D 859
Schubert: Variations on an Original Theme A flat major op. 35 D 813
