The Austrian Identity Of Schubert

Franz Schubert was an Austrian composer who is considered one of the last major composers of the Classical period and one of the first of the Romantic period. Schubert was born in Himmelpfortgrund, a suburb of Vienna, Austria, in 1797 and died in Vienna in 1828. Schubert's music is notable for its melody and harmony, and he is credited with creating the German Lied. He was a prolific composer, producing nearly 1,000 compositions, including more than 600 Lieder and nine symphonies. Schubert's work gained recognition and popularity, and he is considered a key figure in bridging the Classical and Romantic periods of music.

Franz Schubert's life and death

Franz Peter Schubert was born on 31 January 1797 in Himmelpfortgrund, near Vienna, in the Archduchy of Austria. He was the twelfth of fourteen children, and one of only five who survived infancy. Schubert's father was a well-known parish schoolmaster, and his mother was the daughter of a Silesian master locksmith. Schubert showed an early gift for music, receiving his first violin lessons from his father and piano lessons from his elder brother, soon surpassing them both. At the age of eight, he secured a soprano position in the choir of the Imperial and Royal Seminary, where he was offered a free education. He impressed the Kapellmeister, Antonio Salieri, who accepted him as a private pupil.

In 1814, Schubert obtained a teaching position at his father's school. That year, he met a young soprano named Therese Grob, for whom he wrote several liturgical works, and with whom he wanted to marry. However, he was hindered by a severe marriage consent law that required him to prove he could financially support a family. In 1816, Schubert moved in with his friend Franz von Schober, a student from a good family. During this time, he attempted to give music lessons to supplement his income, but soon abandoned them to devote himself to composition.

In the early 1820s, Schubert was part of a close-knit circle of artists and students who held social gatherings that became known as "Schubertiades". However, in the same period, Schubert and four of his friends were arrested by the Austrian police, who were on guard against revolutionary activities. One of his friends, Johann Senn, was imprisoned for over a year and banned from entering Vienna. Schubert never saw him again, but he set some of his poems to music.

In 1822, Schubert met both Weber and Beethoven. Beethoven is said to have recognised Schubert's gift, even examining some of his works on his deathbed and exclaiming: "Truly, the spark of divine genius resides in this Schubert!"

In 1825, Schubert had a pleasant vacation in Upper Austria, where he produced the seven-song cycle "Fräulein am See", based on Walter Scott's "The Lady of the Lake". In 1826, he dedicated a symphony to the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde and received an honorarium in return.

In the midst of his creative activity, Schubert's health began to deteriorate. By the late 1820s, he confided to some friends that he feared he was near death. In the summer of 1828, he saw a physician who confirmed his suspicions that he was terminally ill. Schubert died in Vienna on 19 November 1828, aged 31. The cause of his death was officially diagnosed as typhoid fever, although other theories, including syphilis, have been proposed. Schubert was buried, at his own request, near the grave of Beethoven, whom he had admired all his life.

Schubert's musical education

Franz Schubert was born in Himmelpfortgrund, a suburb of Vienna, Austria, in 1797. He was the fourth surviving son of a schoolmaster, Franz Theodor Schubert, and his wife, Elisabeth, a homemaker. Schubert showed an early gift for music, and his father gave him his first violin lessons. His older brother, Ignaz, gave him piano lessons, but Schubert quickly outpaced him. Schubert also played the organ and sang.

In 1808, at the age of eleven, Schubert enrolled at the Stadtkonvikt school, where he was exposed to the orchestral music of Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven. He also received a choir scholarship, which allowed him to sing at the chapel of the Imperial Court. At the Stadtkonvikt, his teachers included Wenzel Ruzicka, the imperial court organist, and the composer Antonio Salieri, who recognised Schubert as a musical genius. In addition to his vocal training, Schubert played the violin in the students' orchestra and practiced chamber music and piano playing with his peers.

In 1812, Schubert's voice broke, and he had to leave the college. However, he continued his musical education privately with Salieri for three more years. During this time, he also studied at a teacher's training college in Vienna and worked as an assistant at his father's school.

Between 1813 and 1815, Schubert was a prolific songwriter, composing numerous piano pieces, string quartets, a symphony, and a three-act opera. In 1814, he met a young soprano named Therese Grob, for whom he wrote several liturgical works, and he wanted to marry her. However, he was unable to due to a marriage-consent law that required him to prove he could financially support a family.

In 1815, Schubert composed over 20,000 bars of music, including orchestral works, church pieces, a symphony, and about 140 Lieder. He was introduced to Anselm Hüttenbrenner and Franz von Schober, who became his lifelong friends.

In 1816, Schubert decided to pursue music full-time and left his teaching position. That summer, he composed piano duets, dances, and songs, including the "Variations on a French Song in E minor" and the "Sonata in B-Flat Major."

In 1817, Schubert met Johann Michael Vogl, a prominent baritone, for whom he went on to write many songs. Vogl became one of Schubert's main proponents in Viennese musical circles.

Despite his growing popularity, Schubert faced challenges in getting his operas staged and finding publishers for his works. However, in 1821, with the help of friends, he began offering his songs on a subscription basis, which brought him some financial stability.

In the following years, Schubert continued to compose prolifically, creating works such as the "Wanderer Fantasy" for piano, the "Eighth Symphony", the "Die Schöne Müllerin" song cycle, and the opera "Fierrabras."

In 1826, Schubert applied for the position of deputy musical director at the Stadtkonvikt but was unsuccessful. Despite this setback, his popularity in Vienna continued to grow, and he was in negotiations with several publishers. During this period, he composed the "String Quartet in G Major", the "Piano Sonata in G Major", and the "Winterreise" song cycle.

In 1828, Schubert's health began to deteriorate, but he remained committed to his craft. He composed the "Fantasy in F Minor" for piano, the "Great Symphony", the cantata "Mirjam's Siegesgesang", and his final three piano sonatas.

Schubert's first and only public concert took place in March 1828, and its success enabled him to buy his first piano. He died in November 1828, at the age of 31, in Vienna, Austria.

His career as a teacher

Franz Schubert was indeed Austrian, born in Himmelpfortgrund, Vienna, in 1797. He spent the majority of his life in Vienna and is considered one of the greatest composers of the early Romantic era.

Schubert's career as a teacher began early in his life and played a significant role in shaping his musical development. At the age of 16, he left school to become a teacher at his former school, the Stadtkonvikt, where he had received his musical education as a child. This position provided him with financial stability and allowed him to continue composing during his spare time.

As a teacher, Schubert was well-liked and respected by his students. He taught a variety of subjects, including piano, violin, and singing. He also conducted the school choir and organized musical performances, often including his own compositions in the programs. Schubert's teaching style was reportedly strict but fair, and he had a talent for bringing out the best in his students, many of whom went on to have successful musical careers.

In 1818, Schubert left the Stadtkonvikt to become a private music tutor for the daughters of Count Johann Karl Esterházy in Zseliz (now Želiezovce), Hungary. This period provided him with the opportunity to focus more on his composing, as he had fewer teaching responsibilities. He also had access to the Count's extensive library, which allowed him to study the works of classical masters like Mozart, Beethoven, and Haydn.

After a year in Zseliz, Schubert returned to Vienna and continued to teach privately while also pursuing his composing career. He often gave music lessons to the children of wealthy families, which provided him with a modest income. During this time, he also established himself as a prominent figure in Vienna's musical society, frequently hosting and participating in musical gatherings and salons.

Schubert's teaching career was not without its challenges. He sometimes struggled financially, and there were periods where he had to take on additional students or seek out new teaching positions. Despite this, he remained dedicated to his craft and continued to compose tirelessly, producing a vast body of work that includes over 600 secular vocal compositions, seven complete symphonies, and a large number of chamber and piano works.

In conclusion, Schubert's career as a teacher was integral to his development as one of the most influential composers of his time. It provided him with financial stability, allowed him to study and analyze the works of classical masters, and offered him the opportunity to share his passion for music with his students, who undoubtedly gained immense value from his teachings.

Schubert's compositions

Schubert was an Austrian composer of the late Classical and early Romantic eras. He is noted for the melody and harmony in his songs and chamber music. He also produced several symphonies, masses, and piano works.

• Piano Quintet in A, D667 – ‘Trout’ Quintet
• Symphony No.8 In B minor, D759 – ‘Unfinished’ Symphony
• Die Schöne Müllerin, D795
• String Quartet No.14 In D Minor, D810 – ‘Death And The Maiden’
• Impromptus, Op.90, D899 and Op.142, D935
• Piano Trio No.2 In E Flat Major, Op.100, D929
• Symphony No.9, D944 – ‘The Great’
• String Quintet in C, D956
• Piano Sonata No.21 In B Flat Major, D960
• Winterreise, D.911

His legacy

Franz Schubert is considered the last of the classical composers and one of the first romantic ones. He is best remembered for his songs, also called lieder, and his chamber music. He also created symphonies, masses, and piano works.

Schubert is considered a key figure in bridging the Classical and Romantic periods. He is noted for the melody and harmony in his songs and chamber music.

Schubert's appreciation during his lifetime was limited to a small circle of admirers in Vienna, but interest in his work increased greatly in the decades following his death. Composers such as Felix Mendelssohn, Robert Schumann, Franz Liszt, and Johannes Brahms discovered and championed his works. Today, Schubert is considered one of the greatest composers in the history of Western classical music, and his music continues to be widely performed and celebrated.

Schubert was remarkably prolific, writing over 1,500 works in his short career. His compositional style progressed rapidly throughout his life, and he excelled in a variety of forms and genres, including opera, liturgical music, chamber music, and symphonic works.

Schubert made an indelible mark in the genre of Lieder (songs or poems scored to classical music). He explored and expanded the potentialities of the genre, as no composer before him. He is credited with creating the German Lied and transforming poetry into music. Schubert set the poetry of giants like Johann Wolfgang von Goethe to music, showing the world the possibility of representing their works in musical form.

Schubert's works, particularly his Lieder, continue to be reimagined and reinterpreted by musicians and ensembles. For example, American musician Bryan Benner, who lived in Vienna, founded an ensemble called The Erlkings, named after one of Schubert's most famous Lieder, "Erlkönig". They translated the songs from German to English and set the compositions from piano to guitar, cello, tuba, and drums, creating a renaissance of sorts for Schubert's Lieder.

Schubert's chamber music remains popular, with pieces such as the Trout Quintet and the String Quintet in C major consistently ranking highly in surveys and polls.

A memorial to Schubert was constructed in the Stadtpark in Vienna in 1872, and in 1888, his grave was relocated to the Zentralfriedhof cemetery in Vienna, where he was placed alongside fellow musical giants Johann Strauss II and Johannes Brahms.

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