Schubert

(shu-b ), Franz Peter, compr. b. Lichtenthal, near Vienna, Jan. 31, 1797: d. Vienna, Nov. 19, 1828 Son of schoolmaster, one of 19 children (brother Ignaz gave him le ons and Ferdinand took care of him); sweetne of soprano voice secured him attention at Convict School and Court Chapel, where he was taught harmony by Rucziszka; taught m lowest cla of father’s school 1813-16; released 1817 from this by friend F. von Schober, with whom he lived thereafter (except 1819-21); taught music to daughters of Count Esterhazy 1818; acquainted with Beethoven during his last illne 1827; concert of his own works early in 1828; repeated efforts to gain some lucrative position always failed; though appreciated by contemporary musicians and to some extent by the public, he was underpaid by his publishers and always struggling against poverty. Began to compose very early, and fertility of production increased as 228 ; SCHUCH life lasted; during last year wrote Wurzburg, 10th symph., ma in E flat, Miri- Dresden am's Song, quintet, nuartet 3 lor, sonatas, and songs latcM |.u J Proska as Swan Songs; Sir (»co since whose article on S in his Dictionary Schulhoff is the standard in English, descnbes comm, him as a “ bom bourgeois, never Berlin, really at his ease except among his Kisch, equals and chosen a ociates; with d6but them he was genial.... even in boisterous Simplicity curigave ously characterizes his whole life.” long He composed 17 operas, of which taught 7 were performed and of which Die compositions ZvnUingsbruder, Alfonso und Estrella music, Fierabras are at least familiar caprices names; the incidental music to confounded Rosamunds is well known from in orchestral suite; 6 ma es, several Schumann psalms, hymns, occasional cantatas, compr. Miriams Siegesgesang, etc.; chamber Oct. music (octet, quintets, trios), pf Robert; mus. (sonatas, waltzes, impromptus, director), etc.); 7 overtures, vln. concerto; 10 at symphonies, of which one is known scher, as the Unfinished several hundred Danzig songs. Most admired for sym- Bremen phonies and songs. The symphonies Berlin are praised for their romantic emo compositions tional expre ion; Schuberts great Psyche innovation was “the introduction chestral of the song into the symph.”, most klage notably in the Unfinished symph. an in B min.; the fluency and fertility of his invention command admira- Schumann, tion but his work is condemned for b. diffusene , lack of firmne and d. originality in harmonic structure. 1856. For the best of the songs there is seller, little but praise; he wrote three tions kinds of songs: the simpler Lied ability like those of his predece ors; a of more dramatic and original variety 1825, in which the changing emotions of ing the poems are followed throughout; Heidelberg; and declamatory ones. Among so Wieck, many, inevitably some songs are of musician; inferior quality; sometimes this was manently due to lack of care, sometimes to finger poor words. At his best, in such position songs as Who is Sylvia t The Erl early King etc., S. shows perfect dramatic founded appropriatene combined with sheer which loveline of melody, unequaled by was any other composer. paper ously