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 Schubert,
Franz Peter (1797-1828), Austrian composer, whose songs are among
romantic masterpieces in that genre and whose instrumental works reflect
a classical heritage as well as 19th-century romanticism. Schubert
was born on January 31, 1797, in Vienna. The son of a parish schoolmaster,
he became a choirboy in the Imperial Chapel in 1808 and began studies
at the Konvict, the school for court singers. He played violin in
the school orchestra. II. Earliest Works Print section His first songs,
among them "Hagars Klage" (Hagar's Lament, 1811) and "Der Vaterm�rder
(The Patricide, 1811), greatly impressed his teachers. When his voice
changed in 1813, Schubert left the Konvict and began teaching in his
father's school. The following year, he wrote his first opera, Des
Teufels Lustschloss (The Devil's Pleasure-Castle); his first mass,
in F major; and 17 songs, including such masterpieces as "Der Taucher"
(The Diver) and "Gretchen am Spinnrade" (Gretchen at the Spinning
Wheel). In 1815 Schubert completed his second and third symphonies
and wrote two masses, in G and B-flat major, other sacred works, some
chamber music, and 146 songs, including "Erlk�nig" (Erl King), based
on a mythological figure of death. That year, he also worked on five
operas. In 1816 he wrote his Symphony in C Minor, known as the Tragic
Symphony, the Symphony in B-flat Major, additional sacred music, an
opera, and more than 100 songs. About this time Schubert gave up teaching,
devoting himself exclusively to composition. Not a success with the
general public during his lifetime, Schubert was recognized as a composer
of genius by a small circle of friends, among them the poet and playwright
Franz Grillparzer and the singer Johann Michael Vogl. III. Later Works
Print section In 1820 Schubert wrote music for Die Zauberharfe (The
Magic Harp), a melodrama, and Die Zwillingsbr�der (The Twin Brothers,
1820), an unsuccessful operetta. He also composed sacred music such
as the Twenty-third Psalm and the unfinished oratorio Lazarus. A group
of his songs was published in 1821. In 1822 he wrote the Symphony
in B Minor, known as the Unfinished Symphony, and the Mass in A-flat.
His song cycle Die Sch�ne M�llerin (The Miller's Beautiful Daughter)
was composed in 1823 and the Octet and Songs from Sir Walter Scott
in 1824. For the next two years Schubert wrote constantly, producing
the song cycle Die Winterreise (Winter's Journey) in 1827. The Seventh
Symphony in C Major, the Mass in E-flat Major, the String Quintet
in C major, his last three piano sonatas, and his last and greatest
collection of songs, Schwanengesang (Swan Song), were written in 1828.
Schubert died on November 19, 1828, of typhoid fever. IV. Evaluation
Print section Schubert's early instrumental works, which follow the
patterns used by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Joseph Haydn, are marked
as romantic by a new sonority and a harmonic and melodic richness.
In his early piano sonatas, Schubert worked to free himself from the
influence of Ludwig van Beethoven. Although he cast his symphonies
and sonatas in classical outlines, in their development sections these
works rarely achieve the dramatic tension that is the core of the
classical sonata form; instead they tend to emphasize expansive melody
and evocative harmonies. Schubert's instrumental works show development
over a long period of time, but some of his greatest songs were composed
before he was 20 years old. In Schubert's songs the literary and musical
elements are perfectly balanced, composed on the same intellectual
and emotional level. Although Schubert composed strophic songs throughout
his career, he did not follow set patterns but exploited bold and
free forms when the text demanded it. His reputation as the father
of German lieder ("art songs") rests on a body of more than 600 songs.
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