Can anyone identify the Deutsche number of this song? I have checked every song with the German word "Abschied" in the title. Any other leads?
This song is spurious - it is not actually by Schubert. It is listed in my copy of the Deutsch thematic catalog (1950 edition) under "Spurious and Doubtful works". According to Deutsch:
Deutsch also informs us that it was first published with attribution to Schubert by Richault (Paris, ca. 1835) in French, Lonsdale (London, ca. 1840) in Italian and Spanish, and Schlesinger (Berlin, 1843) in German, with piano arrangement by Döhler. Thus it would seem that it was not associated with Schubert during his lifetime.
According to the Schubert Institute (UK), it was even listed as "spurious" as early as 1874 in Gustav Nottebohm's catalog of Schubert's works.
To me the melody seems too syrupy-sickly-sweet to be real Schubert. I can imagine it appealing to the kind of audience that likes "Lilac Time/ Das Dreimäderlhaus" and schmaltzy salon arrangements of the theme from the Unfinished Symphony, but for me, playing through it after a period of time immersing myself in real Schubert brings on a reaction not unlike that of fingernails on a blackboard.
Do an internet search for "Schubert adieu spurious" and you will find more information.
I don't have the tools or know-how to do the clean-up but if someone could remove this impostor, thousands of Schubertians all over the world will thank you. Aldona 11:56, 26 January 2011 (UTC)