An den Tod

Franz SchubertD.518

RomanticWell-knownC minorAndante4/4~3.5 min
H5
Henle (estimated)
RCM 7ABRSM 7

About this piece

Schubert's "An den Tod" (Op. Posth., D. 518) is a poignant Lied for piano, setting a poem contemplating death. The music is characterized by its profound lyricism and dramatic shifts, reflecting the text's emotional depth.

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Teacher notes

Focus on expressive phrasing and managing the harmonic color changes.

Technical focus

cantabilerubatovoicingpedaling

Mood

melancholiccontemplativetender

Listen & watch

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Free sheet music on IMSLP

Frequently asked questions

How hard is An den Tod (D.518) by Franz Schubert?

An den Tod (D.518) is rated Henle level 5 of 9 — late intermediate repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 6–7. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 7.

What level do I need to play An den Tod?

You should be comfortable at Henle level 5 — meaning you can already play level 4–5 pieces cleanly. Learning it one level early is possible as a stretch piece, but more than that usually leads to months of frustration.

How long is An den Tod?

A typical performance of An den Tod (D.518) lasts about 3.5 minutes.

Where can I get free sheet music for An den Tod?

An den Tod (D.518) is available as free public-domain sheet music on IMSLP — the score is linked directly from this page.