Franz Schubert (1797 - 1828) was an Austrian composer of the late Classical and
early Romantic eras. Despite his short life, Schubert left behind a vast oeuvre, including
more than 600 secular vocal works (mainly lieder), operas, sacred music, incidental music,
seven complete symphonies and a large body of piano and chamber music.
Schubert was born in the Himmelpfortgrund suburb of Vienna on January 19, 1797.
Ludwig van Beethoven was 26 when Schubert was born and Schubert died in 1828, the
year after Beethoven died. At the time of his death Early Romantic composers such as
Frédéric Chopin, Robert Schumann, Felix Mendelssohn, and Franz Liszt were in their
late teens and just beginning their careers. Like Beethoven, Schubert can be seen as a
bridge between the Classical and Romantic styles of composing.
Schubert's uncommon gifts for music were evident from an early age. His father gave
him his first violin lessons and his elder brother gave him piano lessons, but Schubert soon
exceeded their abilities. In 1808, at the age of eleven, he became a pupil at the Stadtkonvikt
school, where he became acquainted with the music of Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven. He
left the Stadtkonvikt at the end of 1813, and returned home to live with his father, where he
began studying to become a schoolteacher; despite this, he continued studying composing
with Antonio Salieri and still composed prolifically.
In 1815, at age 18, Schubert composed the leid Der Erlkönig; Wer reitet so spät durch
Nacht und Wind? to a poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe which was very popular.
While Schubert was composing good works in his early teens, the compositions of 1819
and 1820 show a marked advance in development and maturity of style. In 1821, he was
admitted to the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde as a performing member, which helped
establish his name among the Viennese citizenry.
establish his name among the Viennese citizenry.
Schubert contracted syphilis in 1822. He had a series of remissions and painful
reoccurrences over his last six years. The experience caused him periods of melancholy
and despair which influenced his music.
In March 1828, Schubert gave a concert of his own works to critical acclaim, the only
In March 1828, Schubert gave a concert of his own works to critical acclaim, the only
time he did so in his career. He died eight months later (November 9, 1828) at the age of
31, the cause officially attributed to typhoid fever, but believed by some historians to be
syphilis.
Appreciation of Schubert's music while he was alive was limited to a relatively small
circle of admirers in Vienna, but interest in his work increased significantly in the decades
following his death. Felix Mendelssohn, Robert Schumann, Franz Liszt, Johannes Brahms
and other 19th-century composers discovered and championed his works. Today, Schubert
is ranked among the greatest composers of Western classical music and his music continues
to be very popular.
Franz Schubert's Place in Music History
Schubert's best years were between 1818 and his death in 1828. These years pretty
closely match what is commonly called Beethoven's "late period" (1816 - 1826). Schubert
was highly influenced by Beethoven, and like Beethoven, he is often seen as a bridge
between the Classical and Romantic eras.
Note: For a number of reasons, the numbering of works in certain genres are not agreed
on and are confusing. Unlike Beethoven's works where a symphony, piano sonata,
etc. can be identified by a number with certainty (e.g. Symphony No. 5), Schubert's
numberings are contested.
For instance, Schubert's famous "Unfinished symphony" is usually called
Symphony No. 8, but is sometimes called Symphony No. 7. His final piano sonata
(in Bb major ) has been numbered No. 20, 21, and 22.
Instead, it is clearer to refer to Schubert's works by their Deutch catalogue number,
represented by the letter D and a number after the work's name. So the "Unfinished
Symphony" is Symphony in B minor, D. 759 and the final piano sonata, Piano
Sonata in Bb major, is Piano Sonata D. 960.
The Essential Works of Franz Schubert (your instructor's suggestions)
List of All Compositions by Franz Schubert (Wikipedia)
Appreciation of Schubert's music while he was alive was limited to a relatively small
circle of admirers in Vienna, but interest in his work increased significantly in the decades
following his death. Felix Mendelssohn, Robert Schumann, Franz Liszt, Johannes Brahms
and other 19th-century composers discovered and championed his works. Today, Schubert
is ranked among the greatest composers of Western classical music and his music continues
to be very popular.
Franz Schubert's Place in Music History
Schubert's best years were between 1818 and his death in 1828. These years pretty
closely match what is commonly called Beethoven's "late period" (1816 - 1826). Schubert
was highly influenced by Beethoven, and like Beethoven, he is often seen as a bridge
between the Classical and Romantic eras.
Note: For a number of reasons, the numbering of works in certain genres are not agreed
on and are confusing. Unlike Beethoven's works where a symphony, piano sonata,
etc. can be identified by a number with certainty (e.g. Symphony No. 5), Schubert's
numberings are contested.
For instance, Schubert's famous "Unfinished symphony" is usually called
Symphony No. 8, but is sometimes called Symphony No. 7. His final piano sonata
(in Bb major ) has been numbered No. 20, 21, and 22.
Instead, it is clearer to refer to Schubert's works by their Deutch catalogue number,
represented by the letter D and a number after the work's name. So the "Unfinished
Symphony" is Symphony in B minor, D. 759 and the final piano sonata, Piano
Sonata in Bb major, is Piano Sonata D. 960.
The Essential Works of Franz Schubert (your instructor's suggestions)
List of All Compositions by Franz Schubert (Wikipedia)
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