About this edition
Composed during the winter of 1814–1815, when Schubert was still a teenager, the Symphony No. 2 in B-flat Major bursts with the confidence of a young composer already testing the boundaries of the Viennese classical style he inherited from Haydn and Mozart. Its broad slow introduction, a songful theme-and-variations Andante in E-flat major, and a finale that hurtles forward with restless energy reveal a composer stretching beyond convention even while honoring it. Though it went unheard by the public during Schubert's lifetime, the symphony stands today as one of the most vivid and underappreciated achievements of his youth.
This edition reproduces the score as it appeared in "Franz Schubert's Werke," the pioneering critical complete edition issued by Breitkopf & Härtel of Leipzig. Symphony No. 2 appears in Serie I, No. 2 (pages 65–142, plate F.S. 2), published in 1884. Notably, the symphonies volume was edited by Johannes Brahms, whose deep reverence for Schubert's music led him to lend his own scholarly care and musical judgment to establishing the text. Brahms's editorship, paired with Breitkopf & Härtel's exacting engraving standards, made this the authoritative first published edition of the full score — the foundation for virtually every performance and study edition that followed.
About this edition:
- Full orchestral score, ideal for study, conducting preparation, and library use
- Page size: 8.5 x 11 inches
- Reproduced from a historical public domain source
- Published by Purple 4R Publishing
Because this score belongs to the public domain, we're able to bring this landmark Brahms-edited edition back into print — making Schubert's youthful symphonic voice freely accessible to conductors, orchestras, students, and scholars alike.
