String Quartet in D minor D 810 (Death and the Maiden)

Schubert String Quartet in D minor D 810 (Death and the Maiden) (Parts)

The early history of the reception of the Quartet in D minor D 810 is marred by many blank spots, but also by some dark ones as well, which considerably troubled Schubert.  Indeed, the Quartet in D minor did not share the good fortune of its fellow work in A minor, which was performed with success and was published in September 1824.  Schubert never heard a public performance of the D minor work and did not succeed in getting it published.  Later documents report that the work was turned down by Ignaz Schuppanzigh and his string quartet, but also that a private performance took place at the beginning of 1826 (Franz Lachner in 1881, Heinrich Kreissle von Hellborn in 1865, resp.).  At the 1826 rehearsal, Schubert is said to have made corrections “in the newly written parts”.  This succinct observation has given rise to the widely disseminated view, still held today, that the work was completed only in 1826.  However, there is absolutely no surviving performance material from Schubert's day.

- Urtext of the New Schubert Edition

- Parts (BA5613) and study score format 22.5 x 16.5cm (TP301) available for sale