Schubert-Servais - All'Ungaren [Moment Musical No. 3], D. 780, No. 3 (Transcribed for Cello and Quintet/Piano)

Franz Schubert (1797-1828) was an early Romantic Austrian composer who primarily championed German lieder and piano works. A set of six short piano pieces called MomentsMusicaux was published in 1828. The third piece in this set, in F minor, quickly became an audience favorite and has been arranged for variouscombinations of instruments over the

Franz Schubert (1797-1828) was an early Romantic Austrian composer who primarily championed German lieder and piano works. A set of six short piano pieces called Moments Musicaux was published in 1828. The third piece in this set, in F minor, quickly became an audience favorite and has been arranged for various combinations of instruments over the last two centuries.

The Belgian cellist-composer François Servais (1807-1866) transcribed the third piece for cello and string quintet in G minor under the title All'Ungaren, likely because the piece has a certain Hungarian flair. The transcription is straightforward with the solo cellist always having the melody and the strings mostly supporting with pizzicato.

Hugo Becker (1863-1941), the German cellist-composer who edited many of Servais's works, published a transcription of this Schubert work ca. 1910 with the London firm Bosworth. This transcription has become popular with cellists. However, comparing the Becker transcription to Servais, the resemblance of the solo part cannot be a mere coincidence. Perhaps Becker had a copy of a manuscript by Servais and tried to pass a large portion of the transcription as his own.

Our edition is based on the autograph of the quintet version housed in a private collection. We have also made a piano reduction of the transcription. This set includes the score, piano reduction, and all of the parts needed for performance.