The two lieder “Vollendung” and “Die Erde” were thought to have been lost – until the winter of 1968/1969, when editor Christa Landon made a stunning discovery in the archives of the “Wiener Männergesangs-Verein” during her research for the “New Schubert Edition”.  Amidst a large complex of newly discovered Schubertiana autographs and manuscript copies, she found a “copy of fragments from Franz Schubert’s estate in his own hand”, formerly owned by Schubert biographer Heinrich Kreissle, which contained both songs.<br>
<br>
In the Schubert thematic catalogue compiled by Otto Erich Deutsch, “Die Erde” has been assigned number D 989. In the commentary the lieder “Die Erde” and “Vollendung” are erroneously described as one lied.<br>
<br>
In the catalogue “Vollendung” was included in its entirety, whereas “Die Erde” is missing the last seven measures and the text for verses 2 and 3. It was possible to verify that Friedrich von Matthisson wrote the text for this song, and to identify the original texts that Schubert most likely had access to.<br>