Schubert Sonata - Dealing with Wide-Spanning Chords

[ritenuto]

I'm learning Sonata Op 120 D664 Mvt. 1 as an exam piece and have only sight-read the first few lines so far but have already come across a scary-looking chord that is too wide-spanning for my RH (and that of the average person, I would assume!). The chords is in Bar 7 (D-F#-G#) Would it be correct to play it arpeggiando? Can't really see any other way to deal with it.

First post here so hope it's in the right place and all...

[mjames]

It was probably meant to be rolled. Keep in mind that most his works were published after his death, meaning that quite a lot of the first editions are barely notated/edited (as a means to remain fateful to schubert). Same reason why you won't find pedal marks in first editions, but that doesn't mean schubert didn't intend you to not use them. A lot of his stuff won't even sound good without the pedal. Also somethings arent notated because they might seem obvious to experienced musician. Like Scriabin not writing down pedal marks in his preludes, its like duh, if youre playing this, i expect you to know how to pedal by yourself! Might be the same reason why schubert didnt bother to write a roll sign, its like "duh, course youre supposed to roll it!"

Or maybe, MAYBE, he really did mean for you to play the chord like that. But that doesnt matter, since you cant do it, dont. Roll it.

[ritenuto]

Ok thanks, yeah I get what you mean. 'Rolling it' it is then for me I suppose...

[ritenuto]

Just noticed a mistanke in my 1st post - chord is D-G#-F#(in next 8ve)