Franz Schubert was a prolific composer of instrumental pieces and vocal music. Although his work is generally considered to have been completed too soon, he has had an enduring impact on the classical music tradition with over sixty-six songs and over four hundred other compositions.

Franz Schubert (1797-1828) was a composer of symphonies, operas, and much more. He composed the “Erlkönig” song in 1816 which is about an elf who has lost his child.

Franz Peter Schubert was one of the earliest Romantics, and the composer who, more than anyone else, brought the art song (lied) to its aesthetic peak. He created masterpieces in almost every genre throughout his brief but productive career, all of them were marked by rich harmonies, an expansive interpretation of traditional forms, and an apparently limitless talent for melody.

Schubert received his first musical instruction from his father and brothers. After passing an audition, Schubert enrolled in the Stadtkonvikt, a school for young singers who would ultimately perform at the Imperial Court’s chapel. Schubert started to experiment with composition and composed a song that caught the notice of the institution’s director, Antonio Salieri, who praised young Schubert as a genius, along with the school’s professor of harmony. After his voice broke in 1813, Schubert went to his father, who advised him to follow in his footsteps and become a schoolteacher. Schubert reluctantly agreed and toiled away in that role during the day, while writing prolifically at night. Before the age of 20, he had composed over 100 songs as well as many symphonic, operatic, and chamber music compositions.

Schubert eventually resigned from his teaching job to pursue music full-time. The teenage composer worked as a private music instructor for the aristocratic Esterházy family during the summer of 1818. Schubert led a rather bohemian existence after leaving that position in the autumn, writing and spending time with a group of friends who served as his personal support system. Two opera houses, the Karthnerthor Theatre and Theatre-an-der-Wein, commissioned Schubert to write a pair of operas in 1820. Die Zwillingsbrüder and Zauberharfe, both of which were critically panned, were his works. None of the publishers were prepared to take a risk on a relatively unknown composer who produced harmonically unconventional music, thus Schubert was unable to obtain a contract. With the help of his creative pals, Schubert self-published his own work for a group of around 100 subscribers. However, these endeavors were financially unprofitable, and Schubert struggled to make ends meet. His music was regarded as arrogant and immature by contemporary composers, who rejected it as such.

Schubert was chosen as an honorary member of the Graz Musikverein in 1823. Despite the lack of financial compensation and the insignificance of the position, Schubert enjoyed the attention and wrote his renowned Unfinished Symphony to express his thanks. Schubert’s work was performed at the Musikverein in Vienna five years later. His work was met with a great deal of enthusiasm and critical praise. This was the only time in the composer’s life that he was so successful. This appeared to give Schubert a new lease on life, and despite his sickness, the composer continued to create at a breakneck pace. By continuing to assess his work and development as a musician, he started to create a strategy to enhance his artistic reputation, perhaps even intending to learn harmony privately. Schubert’s condition deteriorated, and he was soon on the verge of death. During his last moments, the composer told his brother Ferdinand that he wanted to be buried next to Ludwig van Beethoven’s tomb. Beethoven had complimented Schubert’s work after hearing a sample of songs, and Schubert admired and was thankful to him. Both Franz Joseph Haydn and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s works were highly appreciated by Schubert. Syphilis was the cause of Franz Schubert’s death.

Despite his brief life, Schubert composed a large number of symphonies, operas, masses, chamber music works, and piano sonatas, the majority of which are regarded standard repertory. He is well known for his songwriting, which includes Gretchen am Spinnrade and Erlkonig. With works like Die Schöne Müllerin and Winterreise, he established the song cycle and influenced both Robert Schumann and Gustav Mahler’s vocal composition.

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The “where did schubert came from” is a question posed to me today. Schubert was born in 1797 and died in 1828, but he composed his last work in 1824. He wrote over 600 songs, as well as 9 symphonies and 8 operas.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Schubert most famous piece?

A: The song, Symphony No. 8 in B Minor is named after the German composer Franz Schubert, who composed it in 1822.

How many pieces Schubert wrote?

A: Schubert wrote four symphonies, six string quartets and nine other pieces.

Did Schubert wrote over 600 songs?

A: Yes, Schubert wrote 604 songs.

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