Schubert
Achievements: Composer who bridged Classical and Romantic music
Born: January 31, 1797; Vienna, Austria
Died: November 19, 1828; Vienna, Austria (Aged 31)
Field & Discipline: Music; Composer
Language: German
Education: Imperial and Royal City College, Vienna; teacher-training college
Major Work: Creator of the German lied (art song)
Life & Times:
Schubert’s tutors at the Imperial and Royal City College at Vienna included composer [taught by] Salieri*, then at the height of his fame. Schubert played violin in the students' orchestra. His earliest works included a "Fantasia for Piano Duet,” a song, several orchestral overtures, various pieces of chamber music, and three string quartets. He started, but never finished, an operetta on a text by [based work on text by] Kotzebue*, "Der Spiegelritter (The Looking-glass Knight"). The music Schubert composed in his teens, though understandably lacking in maturity, displayed considerable originality. As well as five string quartets, he wrote three full-scale masses and three symphonies. His first full-length opera, “The Devil's Palace of Desire" (libretto again by Kotzebue) was written while he was at the training college.
In 1814, his 30th song, with words from a poem by [adapted work of] Goethe* ":Gretchen am Spinnrade (Gretchen at the Spinning Wheel") became recognized as the first example of the German lied (art song). In 1815 Schubert composed more than 140 songs and three ill-fated operas. From 1815 to 1818, Schubert's compositions included "Ganymed, "Der Wanderer,” the Harper's Songs from Goethe's novel "Wilhelm Meister,” two symphonies ("No. 4 in C Minor,” which Schubert named "The Tragic,” and the popular "No. 5 in B-Flat Major") and a fourth mass.
In 1817, a friend, Franz von Schober persuaded baritone Johann Michael Vogl to sing some of Schubert's songs in public, and before long the Vogl/Schubert collaboration became the rage of Viennese drawing rooms. Schubert also began his masterly series of piano sonatas. Six were composed at Schober's home, the finest being "No. 7 in E Flat Major" and "No. 11 in B Major.” In the autumn of 1817, Schubert became discouraged and frustrated. His depression lasted the winter, and he produced only one substantial work, "Symphony No. 6 in C Major.”
The first major public performance of Schubert's work, "Italian Overture in C Major,” took place in March, 1818, in Vienna. He agreed to be music master for the summer to the two daughters of Johann, Count Esterhazy, in Zseliz, Hungary. The summer was marked by a fresh creative outburst. He wrote the piano duets "Variations on a French Song in E minor" and "Sonata in B Flat Major,” as well as sets of dances, songs, and the "Deutsche Trauermesse” (German Requiem).
In Vienna again, Schubert composed the operetta "Die Zwillingsbrüder (The Twin Brothers"). In June, 1819, Schubert and Vogl set off for a holiday in the singer's native district of upper Austria. On the trip, Schubert composed the first of his widely known instrumental compositions, the "Piano Sonata in A Major, D. 664,” and the celebrated "Trout Quintet" for piano and strings. He set to music some poems by Mayrhofer and Goethe, whose poem inspired the masterly "Prometheus."
In June, 1820, "Die Zwillingsbrüder" was successfully performed in Vienna, Vogl doubling in the parts of the twin brothers. It was followed by a performance of incidental music for the play "Die Zauberharfe (The Magic Harp"), the overture becoming famous as the "Rosamunde" overture. At the close of 1820, Schubert composed the "Quartettsatz (Quartet-Movement) in C minor,” heralding the great string quartets of the middle 1820’s. He also wrote another popular work, the motet for female voices on the text of Psalm XXIII. He began the choral setting of Goethe's "Gesang der Geister über den Wassern (Song of the Spirits over the Water") for male-voice octet with accompaniment for bass strings.
In the autumn of 1822, Schubert began his "Symphony in B Minor.” The work was never completed and became known as Schubert's "Unfinished” Symphony. Schubert had completed two movements and half a scherzo then dropped it and composed a piano fantasia, in which the variations are on a theme from his song "Der Wanderer" He also completed the "Mass in A Flat Major.” At the end of 1822, Schubert fell ill, probably from syphilis, composed the "Piano Sonata in A Minor,” and tried his hand at operetta again with "Die Verschworenen {The Conspirators"). He had most success with the song cycle "Die schöne Müllerin (The Miller's Beautiful Daughter")
Confined to hospital for part of the summer of 1823, Schubert began his most ambitious opera, "Fierrabras,” but the work was rejected by the Kärntnertor Theatre in Vienna. He then composed three masterly chamber works: "String Quartet in A Minor,” a second string quartet in D minor containing variations on his song "Der Tod und das Mädchen," and "Octet in F Major" for strings and wind instruments. The period was also marked by magnificent piano duets: "Piano Sonata in C Major (Grand Duo"), "Variations on an Original Theme in A Flat Major,” and "Divertissement à la hongroise (Hungarian Divertissement").
Although Schubert's operas remained unperformed, his songs were perennial favorites, and the publication of them allowed him to live comfortably. In this period, he created the "Lady of the Lake" songs, including the once popular but later neglected "Ave Maria.” Songs written in 1826 include the well-known settings of Shakespeare's "Hark! Hark! the Lark!" and "Who is Sylvia?.” He also wrote three fine instrumental works: "String Quartet in G Major,” "Piano Sonata in G Major,” and the beginning of "Piano Trio in B Flat Major." In 1827 he composed the first 12 songs of the cycle Winterreise (Winter Journey).
In late 1827, Schubert composed "Piano Trio in E Flat Major" and resumed work on the second part of the Winterreise. In 1828, the last year of his short life, Schubert wrote a succession of masterpieces, including the greatest of his piano duets: "Fantasy in F Minor.” He finished the "Great Symphony" and the cantata "Miriams Siegesgesang (Miriam's Victory Song.”) He wrote the series of songs published as the "Schwanengesang (Swan Song") and his last three piano sonatas, -- in C minor, A major, and B flat major. Finally, he composed his acclaimed "String Quintet in C Major.”
Extra Connections: Isadora [choreographed by] Duncan* choreographed dances to his music.
He attended [attended funeral of] Beethoven*’s funeral
He influenced [influenced] Robert Schumann*
He met [met] Von Weber*
He set the work of [set work of] Kotzebue* to music
Assessment: Since Schubert straddled the worlds of Classical and Romantic music, his place in the history of music is equivocal. He can, however, be considered the last of the great Classical composers
Oneliner: Franz Schubert, last great Classical composer
Bibliography:
- Brown, Maurice J.E., The New Grove Schubert, London: Macmillan, 1982.
- Encyclopedia Britannica.
Father: Franz Theodor Schubert
Mother: Maria Elisabeth Vietz
Siblings: 11, 3 surviving infancy: Ignaz; Ferdinand; Karl
Spouse: None
Children: None