FRANZ SCHUBERTTHE MOST PROLIFIC COMPOSER OF ALL

Who Was Franz Schubert?

One of the originators of the Romantic style and the greatest of the post classicists. He served as a bridge between the classical period and the romantic periods. His symphonies are considered Classical; his lieder (songs) and piano pieces are Romantic.

He expanded the Classical sonata form with his own creativity and imagination

Schubert Was a Prolific Composer.

He wrote more than 600 songs in his lifetime. He wrote effortlessly and fluidly, and brought the art of German songwriting to its peak. His sense of melody and movement, his unique awareness of changing key and the interplay possible between singer and pianist, and his sense of timing and shifting nuance gave his lieder a power that vocal music had not had in the past. His lyricism was combined with spontaneity and charm of the coming Romantic period.

Early Years

Learned to play the piano, violin, and viola, and played viola in the family string quartet. He, however, never achieved virtuosity on any instrument.

At 7 he became a boy soprano in the village choir.

After 4 years, he won a place in the Vienna court choir (now known as the Vienna Boys Choir). There he studied with Antonio Salieri. He became the first violinist in the school orchestra and began to compose regularly when he was about 13.

Again, that voice changing thing!

When his voice changed, he had to leave the school and ended up teaching from 1813 - 1818 in his father’s school. 

In 1816, at the age of 19, he gave up teaching and decided to live only for music. For 2 years he lived with a friend, Franz von Schober, who worked to spread the composer’s reputation and open his eye to cultural trends

Schubert Was Always Poor Even Though:

The Trout quintet was begun in 1819, after a visit to the mountains with the leading baritone J. M. Vogl liberated his spirit.

Composed effortlessly and once wrote 8 songs in one day, 146 songs in one year.

Applied twice without success for a position as an orchestral conductor.

He wrote several operas in an effort to earn money, but they were never performed.

What Else Happened to Schubert?

He sold compositions for less than their worth when pressed for money.

One of his greatest works, Winter’s Journey (Winterreise), was written in the last year of

his life and reflects his despair and morbidity.

His first 8 symphonies were written before contracting his illness. The last, Symphony No. 9 in C, “The Great” as published in 1829.

In 1828, his friends arranged a benefit concert of his works.

He died on Nov. 19, 1828, of the complications of syphilis which he contracted in 1823. He was buried next to Beethoven in Vienna 1 year after Beethoven’s death in 1827.

Schubert’ Most Important Works

9 Symphonies (the 8th is called the “Unfinished” symphony)

The “Trout” Quintet (Piano Quintet in A Major)

String Quartet in D Minor (Death and the Maiden)

Die Winterreise Over 600 Lieder