Schubert was an Austrian Early-Romantic composer. His greatest
ability is the capturing of lyrical, melancholic moods and a great
talent for melody. Schubert’s greatest significance lies in chamber
music. He wrote about 600 songs, many pieces for chamber ensembles and
solo piano. Furthermore, the author completed seven symphonies, the
eighth being the famous “Unfinished”, and other liturgical, stage, and
ballet music. Despite his hard work, Schubert was never able to obtain
sufficient status and financial security during his short life. He lived
mostly on support from his relatives, friends and admirers, and his
music was not known to the wider public.
Franz Schubert was born in Vienna, but his parents came from Bohemia.
His father came from peasant family from the South Bohemia, and his
mother moved to Vienna from The Northern part of Bohemia.
In 1808, young Franz became a student of the Imperial Convents and a member of the boys’ choir court chapel. Here he also received lessons
from the famous composer Salieri and wrote his first composition.
Schubert left the convent prematurely, probably due to lack of success,
and began working as an assistant teacher at his father’s. He didn’t
enjoy this occupation, but it allowed him to devote himself to
composing. F. Schubert was an extraordinary companion and had many
friends, who supported him his whole life. Although he was quite poor,
he wasn’t forced to care for his living, thanks to their hospitality,
and could only compose. His only job was when he became a music teacher
in 1818 in Count Johann Esterhazy estate in the village of Želiezovce in
Slovakia.
Although Schubert was extraordinarily talented and hard-working
composer, the list of his works consists of nearly a thousand items, he
wasn’t appreciated during his life. He was impractical, did not want to
perform his own concerts and publishers were reluctant to publish a relatively unknown young artist.
At the time of Schubert’s greatest period in 1821, he founded the
tradition of the famous “Schubertiade” – performances of Schubert’s
music in a circle of his friends. Schubert’s life
took a tragic turn when he, sometime in early 1823, contracted
syphilis. His health got continuously worse, which greatly influenced
his life and work.
Franz Schubert died, weakened by chronic illness, in Vienna in the
house of his brother. According to his wishes, he was buried near the
grave of his lifelong icon, Ludwig van Beethoven in Wahring cemetery.
