This was Schubert's last composition for solo piano written only 2 months before his death when he was most probably aware of the upcoming end. It was not published until after his death, and was not appreciated until the second half of the 20th century when public opinion and taste changed. This work is considered today as one of the composer's most important masterpieces and of great depth, considering the composer's personal suffering from the effects of syphilis at the moment of writing it. Schubert was at that time on the threshold between life and death. He was saying "yes" to life through his lyrical and serene melody but there is also a repetitive trill, almost like a threatening and devilish shadow, which creates an outstanding atmosphere throughout this piece and resembles the approaching death. These repetitions of this distant murmuring give you the feeling of something you can not escape from. As pianist Paul Lewis says "Schubert's acceptance [of death] is so apparent here, in such a heartbreaking way...There is a sense of reaching out for something you can't quite reach, you can't quite get [meaning life]...but there is a breathing out, an acceptance that that's how it is". Suggested title: "On the threshold of death".