Loewe, Carl

Carl Loewe (1796–1869) is best remembered for his more than four hundred ballads and songs, which earned him a reputation as “the Schubert of the North.” Less familiar is his small but distinctive body of instrumental music, including several piano sonatas that reveal the same gift for drama, pacing, and character.

Loewe’s piano writing is rooted in Classical form, yet animated by bold contrasts and a vivid narrative imagination. His idiom combines clear textures with rhythmic vitality and expressive directness. The Zigeunersonate, with its five evocative movements, offers a representative example—blending formal clarity with poetic coloration and pianistic nuance.

Felix Editions publishes new Urtext editions of Loewe’s piano works, inviting a fresh look at a composer whose artistry extended far beyond the realm of song.