Composer of the Month: Franz Schubert

This month, the composer that we’d like to focus on and learn more about is none other than Franz Schubert. Schubert was an Austrian composer of the late Classical and early Romantic era of music. Despite a short lifetime — he died at age 31 — he was able to do much and put out as many as 600 secular works, seven symphonies, and a plethora of sacred music, operas, incidental music, and chamber music. Let’s learn more about this musical genius.

Early Life

Born in Vienna in 1787, Franz Schubert showed exemplary musical talent even as a youngster. At an early age, it was clear to everyone who knew him that Franz Schubert had evident musical talent. He was given violin lessons by his father as a small child and his brother gave him piano lessons, however, his musical abilities soon surpassed them both. From age 11 to 16, Schubert studied music at the Stadtkonvikt school, where he became acquainted with the works of Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven. It was during this time that his talent and genius for composing started to show as Schubert composed chamber music, songs, piano pieces, and choral works, all before the age of 17.

Career

At the end of 1813, when Schubert left the music school he’d been attending, he entered his father’s school to be a teacher of the younger music students. He remained there for a few years and it was during his time there that he met and married a soprano named Therese Grob. The year 1815 was huge for Schubert because it’s been said that he wrote as many as 20,000 bars of music. Composing symphonies, works for the church, secular works, and so much more, Schubert made quite a name for himself as he moved on from being a school teacher.

By 1819 and 1820, Schubert showed huge growth and maturity in his composing and that change can be heard in his output of musical compositions during those years. Though it’s been said that Schubert disliked being a school teacher and even suffered from depression during these years, he found great success and contentment later on.

Early Death

In the height of his creative genius, Schubert suffered from a significant illness and his health started to drastically decline. Though he died at the age of 31, he’s still known as one of the most influential and prolific composers of his time.

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