Franz Schubert

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Franz Schubert by Wilhelm August Rieder 1875

Franz Schubert Signature

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Alsergrund (Wien) - Schuberthaus (1)

Re-touched possible portrait of the young Schubert, by Josef Abeljpg

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Karikatur von Johann Michael Voglund Franz Schubert%2C circa 1825

Franz Peter Schubert (31 January 1797 – 19 November 1828) was an Austrian composer of the late Classical era and early Romantic era. Schubert's work spans a variety of genres, including lieder (German art songs for voice and piano), symphonies, sonatas, string quartets, and opera. Despite his short life, Schubert was a prolific composer, leaving behind more than 600 lieder, nine symphonies (including the famous "Unfinished Symphony"), and a vast body of chamber and piano music. Schubert's music is notable for its emotional depth, memorable melodies, and rich harmonies.

Early Life

Franz Schubert was born in Himmelpfortgrund, a suburb of Vienna, to Franz Theodor Florian Schubert and Elisabeth Vietz. His father was a schoolmaster, and his family was musically inclined. Schubert showed an early gift for music and received formal musical training from his father and later from Antonio Salieri, a leading composer of the time who also taught Ludwig van Beethoven.

Career

Schubert's career was marked by his struggle for recognition. He spent most of his life in Vienna, where he was part of a close circle of artists and intellectuals. Despite his prolific output, Schubert never achieved significant public success during his lifetime and was financially supported by friends and patrons. Many of his works were not published until after his death.

Schubert's first public success came with the performance of his "Italian Overture in C Major" in 1818. However, it was his lieder, particularly those set to the poetry of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, that garnered him the most acclaim. His song cycles, such as "Die schöne Müllerin" and "Winterreise," are considered masterpieces of the genre.

Musical Style and Legacy

Schubert's music is characterized by its lyricism, rich harmonic language, and emotional expressiveness. He expanded the classical forms inherited from Beethoven and others, contributing significantly to the development of the Romantic style. Schubert's approach to melody and harmony influenced later composers, including Johannes Brahms, Robert Schumann, and Gustav Mahler.

Despite his premature death at the age of 31 from typhoid fever, Schubert's music has endured. He is now considered one of the greatest composers in Western classical music. His work has been performed and recorded extensively, and he is particularly celebrated for his contributions to the lieder genre.

Selected Works

• Erlkönig (D. 328)
• Symphony No. 8 in B minor, D. 759 "Unfinished"
• Die schöne Müllerin (D. 795)
• Winterreise (D. 911)
• String Quartet No. 14 in D minor, D. 810 "Death and the Maiden"

Death

Franz Schubert died in Vienna on 19 November 1828. His final illness was complicated by typhoid fever, and he was buried near his idol, Ludwig van Beethoven, in the Währing Cemetery. Schubert's grave was later moved to the Zentralfriedhof in Vienna, where it lies next to those of Beethoven and Johann Strauss II.