From http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/damianthompson/5514448/Schuberts_Piano_Sonata_D960__the_ultimate_spiritual_masterpiece/
Schubert's Piano Sonata D960 – the ultimate spiritual masterpiece?
...D960, one of the last creations of a desperately ill 31-year-old-man who has lost his Catholic faith, is frightened out of his wits by the ordeal that lies ahead, and yet produces music of the most magical serenity.
This is the exact way I feel about most of Schubert's piano music i.e.
how, on earth, could someone have written such a joy filled body of music, knowing for years his medical outlook was grim.
His immune system was weakened for years from a dose of syphilis he contracted in 1822.
Some say he died from typhoid fever, some from mercury poisoning.
Mercury was used to "treat" syphilis.
For me, this Piano Sonata holds such meaning and emotion, and is indeed a spiritual experience.
He wanted to be buried near Beethoven, and he was.
I wonder what Ludwig would have thought about D.960.
Here, Alfred Brendel plays the opening movement.
The First Movement is broken into 2 parts due to YouTube's 10 minute limitation.
And here Brendel plays the movement, with its soul lifting middle section, that so inspired the above blogger.
