Ron Chaplin writes:

>It seems to me that Schubert put much more into his quartet than Mozart,
>which seem facile, almost knock-offs compared to the Schubert.
>
>Soooooo, I was wondering if it would be a useful exercise to discuss which
>genre (orchestral, instrumental, chamber, vocal, opera, etc.) a composer
>excelled in.  Which form should I listen to begin to really experience the
>essence of the composers work?

No comment on the Mozart evaluation - with which I do not at all agree.
On Schubert, Death and the Maiden and the very different driving, almost
relentless opus 161 are indeed magnificent.

The piano trios (opus 99, 100) are likewise magnificent, as are the piano
sonatas, oft times clearly inspired by Beethoven, yet so unique.  But to
get the essence of Schubert you need to go to the lieder.  Here there is
almost unique mastery - IMHO only Schumann and Hugo Wolf have produced
works of comparable expressiveness.  And,best of all,there is an immense
treasure of recorded lieder.

Professor Bernard Chasan
Physics Department, Boston University