The life of early composers is not much different from today’s wild rockers. Franz Schubert’s  lifestyle and sexual adventures resulted in syphilis – contributing to his fame… and death at age 31.

The music of Schubert, who lived from 1797 to 1828, is classified within the great Romantic Period of music, 1820 – 1900. There are 6 versions of his song “Die Forelle” (“The Trout”). Simply because when friends asked him for copies of the song, he wrote out new copies to the best he could remember at the time.

Schubert started making music with his friends at choir school in Vienna. They wrote operas and libretti in friends’ homes – in short, they hung out together. They even had a “band” – quote, unquote – called the “Schubertiades.”

On his deathbed in 1828, Schubert finalised his “Winterreise” while reading James Fenimore Cooper’s “The Last of the Mohicans.”

Profile of Schubert

Born:

January 31, 1797; he was the 12th son of Franz Theodor Florian Schubert and Elisabet Katherina Vietz. His father was a schoolmaster.

Birthplace:

Himmelpfortgrund, near Vienna, Austria

Died:

November 19, 1828 in Vienna due to typhus; he was buried at the Wahring cemetery.

Also Known As:

His full name was Franz Peter Schubert, also known as the "master of song" because he wrote more than 600 songs.

Type of Compositions:

Schubert had a very fruitful career as a composer. He composed songs, symphonies, masses and quartets

Influence:

His father taught him how to play the violin; he also played the piano and viola. He studied counterpoint, keyboard playing and singing with Michael Holzen. He also studied with the Italian composer Antonio Salieri.

Notable Works:

Schubert wrote hundreds of musical pieces, some of his well known works are: "Serenade," "Ave Maria," "Who is Sylvia?," "C Major Symphony," "Unfinished Symphony," "Die schone Mullerin," "Winterreise," "Death and the Maiden," "Die Forelle" and "The Erl King,"

Interesting Facts:

Schubert lived a very colorful life. He used to be a choirboy, but in 1812 his voice cracked, thus ending his career in singing. In 1814, he was accepted as a teacher in his fathers' school; he taught children in the primary level. Also, during Beethoven's funeral, Schubert was one of the torch bearers.

Music Sheet:

"Unfinished Symphony"

Selected "Piano Four Hands" Compositions:

• 3 Marches Militaires, Op. 51
• 2 Marches Caracteristiques, Op. 121
• Fugue in E Minor, Op. 152
• Overture in F Major, Op. 34
• Sonata in B-flat, Op. 30
• Sonata in C, Op. 140
• Rhondo in A, Op. 107
• Sonata in C, Op. 140
• Variations on an original theme in A flat, Op. 55
• Variations on a theme of Herold
• Lebensstürme, Op. 144
• Fantasia in F Minor, Op. 103
• Four Polonaises, Op. 75

The final Curious © phrase:

“I know now why Franz Schubert Never finished his unfinished symphony He would have written more but the clock struck four, And everything stopped for tea”

(John Baldrey)