We know relatively little about the genesis of Schubert’s Mass in E-flat Major (D 950) which he completed in 1828, a few months before his death. The work was not performed during his lifetime, and we can only speculate what might have caused the composer to write this Missa Solemnis.

In the preface to this volume of the New Schubert Edition, editor Rudolf Faber assembles all documented facts. Furthermore, he focuses on the accents, which are such a characteristic element of Schubert’s autogr...