The Life of Franz Schubert

Franz Schubert (1797-1828) was born in a suburb of Vienna. He learned the violin from his father and piano from an older brother. He became one of the Vienna Choir Boys due to his beautiful soprano voice. He was shy and dreamy, and one of his teachers stated that Franz "had learned everything from God."

In spite of his musical gifts, he did try to follow in his father's footsteps and become a school teacher. Yet, the routine of the classroom was not for him. He escaped by immersing himself in the lyric poets, the first voices of German Romanticism. It seemed that he easily turned the written word into song, and music came to him spontaneously.

Erkling, set to a poem by Goethe was written when he was eighteen. This song drew him immediately into public recognition, yet he had great difficulty finding a publisher willing to produce the work.

Schubert is viewed as the direct heir of the Classical tradition, and he worshipped Beethoven above all others.

He had a talent for friendship and attracted a band of writers, artists, and musicians. They organized a series of evenings at which Schubert's newest works were performed. These gatherings became known as "Schubertiads", and with the encouragement of his new found friends, he left the school where his father was the schoolmaster.

He composed more than 600 Lieder, three song cycles, 9 symphonies, and chamber music. Within his chamber music, are 15 string quartets, 1 string quintet, 2 piano trios and the Trout Quintet, plus 1 octet. He also wrote various sonatas, dances, and character pieces, plus choral music, including 7 Masses, other liturgical pieces, and part songs. Along with this vast body of work in a short lifespan, he also wrote operas and incidental music for dramas.

Yet, Schubert was not as well-known as some composers of his era, but he was appreciated by the Viennese public and his reputation grew steadily. His musical world was centered in the home, in salon concerts amid a select circle of friends.

He endured much physical suffering due to his progressive condition of syphilis. Also, he was lacking in money at times and sold his works for much less than it was worth.

His musical life began when he was just a child, and in spite of his hardships, his music began to show the maturity of a deeply emotional Romantic artist.

The song cycle, Winter's Journey, is filled with a somber lyricism that was new to music at that time. He wrote, "It seems to me at times that I no longer belong to this world." In spite of his discouragement with his health and lack of great recognition as a true artist, he continued to write new works. And in the final year of his life, he added a group of profound works such as Mass in E-flat, the String Quintet in C, three posthumous piano sonatas, and thirteen of his finest songs.

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