Franz Peter Schubert (1797-1828) – Austrian composer. For such short life he managed to compose 9 symphonies, many chamber and solo music for piano, about 600 vocal compositions. He is rightfully considered one of the founders of romanticism in music. His works still, two centuries later, remain one of the main ones in classical music.
Childhood
His father, Franz Theodor Schubert, was an amateur musician, worked as a teacher at the Lichtenthal parish school, and had peasant origins. He was a very hardworking and respectable person, his ideas about the path in life were associated only with work, and Theodore raised his children in this spirit.
The musician’s mother is Elisabeth Schubert (maiden name Fitz). Her father was a mechanic from Silesia.
In total, fourteen children were born into the family, but the spouses buried nine of them back in early age. Franz's brother, Ferdinand Schubert, also connected his life with music.
The Schubert family loved music very much; they often hosted musical evenings, and on holidays a whole circle of amateur musicians gathered. Dad played the cello, his sons were also taught to play different musical instruments.
Franz's talent for music was discovered at an early age. childhood. His father began to teach him to play the violin, and his older brother taught the baby to play the piano and clavier. And very soon little Franz became a permanent member of the family string quartet, he performed the viola part.
Education
At the age of six, the boy went to parish school. Here not only his amazing ear for music, but also an amazing voice. The child was taken to sing in a church choir, where he performed rather complex solo parts. The church regent, who often attended musical parties with the Schubert family, taught Franz singing, music theory and playing the organ. Soon everyone around him realized that Franz was a gifted child. Dad was especially happy about his son’s achievements.
At the age of eleven, the boy was sent to a boarding school, where singers were trained for the church, which at that time was called konvikt. Even the environment at school was conducive for Franz’s musical talents to develop.
There was a student orchestra at the school, he was immediately assigned to the first violin group, and occasionally Franz was even trusted to conduct. The repertoire in the orchestra was distinguished by its diversity, the child learned in it different genres musical works: overtures and works for vocals, quartets and symphonies. He told his friends that Mozart's Symphony in G minor made the greatest impression on him. And Beethoven’s works were for the child the highest example of musical works.
During this period, Franz began to compose himself; he did it with great passion, which even put music at the expense of other school subjects. Latin and mathematics were especially difficult for him. The father was alarmed by Franz’s excessive passion for music; he began to worry, knowing the path of world-famous musicians; he wanted to protect his child from such a fate. He even came up with a punishment - a ban on coming home for the weekend and holidays. But the development of the young composer’s talent was not affected by any prohibitions.
And then, as they say, everything happened by itself: in 1813, the teenager’s voice broke and he had to leave the church choir. Franz came home to his parents, where he began studying at a teachers' seminary.
Mature years
After graduating from the seminary in 1814, the guy got a job at the same parish school where his father worked. For three years, Franz worked as a teacher's assistant, teaching children subjects primary school and literacy. Only this did not weaken the love for music; the desire to create was stronger and stronger. And it was during this time, from 1814 to 1817 (as he himself called it, during the period of school hard labor), that he created a huge number of musical works.
In 1815 alone, Franz composed:
- 2 piano sonatas and string quartet;
- 2 symphonies and 2 masses;
- 144 songs and 4 operas.
He wanted to establish himself as a composer. But in 1816, when applying for the position of bandmaster in Laibach, he was rejected.
Music
Franz was 13 years old when he wrote his first piece of music. And by the age of 16, he had several written songs and piano pieces, a symphony and an opera. Even the court composer, the famous Salieri, noticed such outstanding abilities of Schubert; he studied with Franz for almost a year.
In 1814, Schubert created his first significant works in music:
- Mass in F major;
- Opera "Satan's Pleasure Castle"
In 1816, Franz had a significant meeting with the famous baritone Vogl Johann Michael. Vogl performed works by Franz, which quickly gained popularity in the salons of Vienna. In the same year, Franz set Goethe’s ballad “The Forest King” to music, and this work was an incredible success.
Finally, at the beginning of 1818, Schubert's first composition was published.
The father’s dreams of a quiet and modest life for his son with a small but reliable teacher’s salary did not come true. Franz quit teaching at school and decided to devote his whole life only to music.
He quarreled with his father, lived in deprivation and constant need, but invariably created, composing one work after another. He had to live alternately with his comrades.
In 1818, Franz was lucky, he moved to Count Johann Esterhazy, in his summer residence, where he taught music to the count's daughters.
He did not work for the count for long and returned to Vienna again to do what he loved - create invaluable musical works.
Personal life
Need became an obstacle to marrying his beloved girl, Teresa Gorb. He fell in love with her in the church choir. She was not a beauty at all; on the contrary, the girl could be called plain: white eyelashes and hair, traces of smallpox on her face. But Franz noticed how her round face transformed with the first chords of music.
But Teresa’s mother raised her without a father and did not want her daughter to play such a role as a poor composer. And the girl, having cried into her pillow, went down the aisle with a more worthy groom. She married a pastry chef, with whom life was long and prosperous, but gray and monotonous. Teresa died at the age of 78, by which time the ashes of the man who loved her with all his heart had long since decayed in the grave.
Recent years
Unfortunately, in 1820, Franz's health began to worry. He became seriously ill at the end of 1822, but after treatment in hospital his health improved slightly.
The only thing he managed to achieve during his lifetime was a public concert in 1828. The success was resounding, but soon after he suffered from enteric fever. She shook him for two weeks, and on March 26, 1828, the composer died. He left a will to be buried in the same cemetery as Beethoven. It was fulfilled. And if in the person of Beethoven a “beautiful treasure” rested here, then in the person of Franz there were “beautiful hopes.” He was too young at the time of his death and could still have done so much.
In 1888, the ashes of Franz Schubert and the ashes of Beethoven were transferred to the Central Vienna Cemetery.
After the composer's death, many unreleased works remained; all of them were published and found recognition from their listeners. His play Rosamund is especially revered; an asteroid that was discovered in 1904 is named after it.
Austria
At the age of eleven, Franz was accepted into the Konvict - the court chapel, where, in addition to singing, he studied playing many instruments and music theory (under the guidance of Antonio Salieri). Leaving the chapel in the city, Schubert got a job as a teacher at a school. He studied mainly Gluck, Mozart and Beethoven. First independent works- the opera "Satan's Pleasure Castle" and the Mass in F major - he wrote in the city.
Why didn't Schubert complete the symphony?
Sometimes it is difficult for an ordinary person to understand the lifestyle that creative people lead: writers, composers, artists. Their work is of a different kind than that of artisans or accountants.
Franz Schubert, an Austrian composer, lived only 31 years, but wrote more than 600 songs, many beautiful symphonies and sonatas, and a large number of choirs and chamber music. He worked very hard.
But the publishers of his music paid him little. The lack of money haunted him all the time.
The exact date when Schubert composed the Eighth Symphony in B minor (Unfinished) is unknown. She was dedicated musical society Austria, and Schubert presented two parts of it in 1824.
The manuscript lay there for more than 40 years until a Viennese conductor discovered it and performed it at a concert.
It has always remained a mystery to Schubert himself why he did not complete the Eighth Symphony. It seems that he was determined to bring it to its logical conclusion, the first scherzos were completely finished, and the rest were discovered in sketches. From this point of view, the “Unfinished” symphony is a completely finished work, since the circle of images and their development exhausts itself within two parts.
Essays
Octet. Schubert's autograph.
- Operas- Alfonso and Estrella (1822; staged 1854, Weimar), Fierabras (1823; staged 1897, Karlsruhe), 3 unfinished, including Count von Gleichen, etc.;
- Singspiel(7), including Claudina von Villa Bella (on a text by Goethe, 1815, the first of 3 acts has been preserved; production 1978, Vienna), The Twin Brothers (1820, Vienna), The Conspirators, or Home War (1823; production 1861, Frankfurt am Main);
- Music for plays- The Magic Harp (1820, Vienna), Rosamund, Princess of Cyprus (1823, ibid.);
- For soloists, choir and orchestra- 7 masses (1814-28), German Requiem (1818), Magnificat (1815), offertories and other wind works, oratorios, cantatas, incl. Victory song Miriam (1828);
- For orchestra- symphonies (1813; 1815; 1815; Tragic, 1816; 1816; Small C major, 1818; 1821, unfinished; Unfinished, 1822; Major C major, 1828), 8 overtures;
- Chamber instrumental ensembles- 4 sonatas (1816-17), fantasy (1827) for violin and piano; sonata for arpeggione and piano (1824), 2 piano trios (1827, 1828?), 2 string trios (1816, 1817), 14 or 16 string quartets (1811-26), Trout piano quintet (1819?), string quintet ( 1828), octet for strings and winds (1824), etc.;
- For piano 2 hands- 23 sonatas (including 6 unfinished; 1815-28), fantasy (Wanderer, 1822, etc.), 11 impromptu (1827-28), 6 musical moments (1823-28), rondo, variations and others plays, over 400 dances (waltzes, landlers, German dances, minuets, ecosaises, gallops, etc.; 1812-27);
- For piano 4 hands- sonatas, overtures, fantasies, Hungarian divertissement (1824), rondos, variations, polonaises, marches, etc.;
- Vocal ensembles for men's, women's voices And mixed compositions accompanied and unaccompanied;
- Songs for voice and piano, (more than 600) including the cycles The Beautiful Miller's Wife (1823) and Winter's Journey (1827), the collection Swan Song (1828).
See also
Bibliography
- Konen V. Schubert. - ed. 2nd, add. - M.: Muzgiz, 1959. - 304 p. (Most suitable for an initial introduction to the life and work of Schubert)
- Wulfius P. Franz Schubert: Essays on Life and Work. - M.: Muzyka, 1983. - 447 pp., ill., notes. (Seven essays on the life and work of Schubert. Contains the most detailed index of Schubert’s works in Russian)
- Khokhlov Yu. N. Schubert's songs: Features of style. - M.: Music, 1987. - 302 pp., notes. (Under investigation creative method Sh. based on the material of his songs, gives a description of his songwriting. Contains a list of more than 130 titles of works about Schubert and his songwriting)
- Alfred Einstein: Schubert. Ein musikalisches Portrit, Pan-Verlag, Zrich 1952 (als E-Book frei verfügbar bei http://www.musikwissenschaft.tu-berlin.de/wi)
- Peter Gülke: Franz Schubert und seine Zeit, Laaber-Verlag, Laaber 2002, ISBN 3-89007-537-1
- Peter Härtling: Schubert. 12 moments musicaux und ein Roman, Dtv, Munich 2003, ISBN 3-423-13137-3
- Ernst Hilmar: Franz Schubert, Rowohlt, Reinbek 2004, ISBN 3-499-50608-4
- Kreissle, "Franz Schubert" (Vienna, 1861);
- Von Helborn, "Franz Schubert";
- Rissé, "Franz Schubert und seine Lieder" (Hannover, 1871);
- Aug. Reissmann, “Franz Schubert, sein Leben und seine Werke” (B., 1873);
- H. Barbedette, "F. Schubert, sa vie, ses oeuvres, son temps" (P., 1866);
- Mme A. Audley, “Franz Schubert, sa vie et ses oeuvres” (P., 1871).
Links
- Schubert's Catalog of Works, Unfinished Eighth Symphony (English)
- NOTES (!)118.126MB, PDF format Complete collection of Schubert's vocal works in 7 parts in the Sheet Music Archive of Boris Tarakanov
- Franz Schubert: Sheet music of works at the International Music Score Library Project
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
- Franz von Sickingen
- Franz von Hipper
See what "Franz Schubert" is in other dictionaries:
Franz Schubert (disambiguation)- Franz Schubert: Franz Schubert is a great Austrian composer, one of the founders of romanticism in music. (3917) Franz Schubert is a typical main belt asteroid, named after the Austrian composer Franz Schubert ... Wikipedia
(3917) Franz Schubert- This term has other meanings, see Franz Schubert (meanings). (3917) Franz Schubert Discovery Discoverer Freimut Borngen (English) Date of discovery February 15, 1961 Eponym Franz Schubert ... Wikipedia
Franz Peter Schubert- Franz Peter Schubert Lithograph by Joseph Kriehuber Date of birth January 31, 1797 Place of birth Vienna Date of death ... Wikipedia
Franz Schubert is a famous Austrian composer. His life was quite short, he lived only 31 years, from 1797 to 1828. But during this short period he made a huge contribution to the development of the world musical culture. You can verify this by studying the biography and work of Schubert. This outstanding composer considered one of the most prominent founders of the romantic movement in musical art. Having familiarized yourself with the most important events in Schubert's biography, you can better understand his work.
Family
The biography of Franz Schubert begins on January 31, 1797. He was born into a poor family in Lichtenthal, a suburb of Vienna. His father, who came from a peasant family, was a school teacher. He was distinguished by his hard work and integrity. He raised his children, instilling in them that work is the basis of existence. Mother was the daughter of a mechanic. There were fourteen children in the family, but nine of them died in infancy.
Schubert's biography summary demonstrates the important role of family in the development of a young musician. She was very musical. His father played the cello, and little Franz’s brothers played other musical instruments. Often musical evenings were held in their house, and sometimes all the amateur musicians they knew would gather at them.
First music lessons
From the short biography of Franz Schubert it is known that the unique musical abilities appeared in him very early. Having discovered them, his father and older brother Ignatz began classes with him. Ignatz taught him to play the piano, and his father taught him the violin. After some time, the boy became a full-fledged member of the family string quartet, in which he confidently performed the viola part. It soon became clear that Franz needed more professional music studies. That's why music lessons with the gifted boy were entrusted to the regent of the Lichtenthal Church, Michael Holzer. The teacher admired the extraordinary musical abilities of his student. In addition, Franz had beautiful voice. By the age of eleven, he performed difficult solo parts in the church choir, and also played the violin part, including solo, in the church orchestra. The father was very pleased with his son's success.
Konvikt
When Franz was eleven years old, he took part in a competition to select singers for the imperial royal court singing chapel. Having successfully passed all the tests, Franz Schubert becomes a singer. He is enrolled in Konvikt, a free boarding school for gifted children from low-income families. The younger Schubert now has the opportunity to receive general and musical education for free, which becomes a benefit for his family. The boy lives in a boarding school and comes home only for the holidays.
Studying short biography Schubert, one can understand that the situation that developed in this educational institution contributed to the development of the musical abilities of a gifted boy. Here Franz daily practices singing, playing the violin and piano, and theoretical disciplines. The school organized a student orchestra, in which Schubert played first violin. The conductor of the orchestra, Wenzel Ruzicka, noticing the extraordinary talent of his student, often entrusted him with the duties of conductor. The orchestra performed a wide variety of music. Thus, the future composer met orchestral music various genres. He was especially impressed by the music of the Viennese classics: Mozart’s Symphony No. 40, as well as musical masterpieces Beethoven.
First compositions
While studying in convict, Franz began to compose. Schubert's biography states that he was thirteen years old at the time. He writes music with great passion, often to the detriment of school activities. Among his first compositions are a number of songs and a fantasy for piano. Demonstrating outstanding musical abilities, the boy attracts the attention of the famous court composer Antonio Salieri. He begins classes with Schubert, during which he teaches him counterpoint and composition. Teacher and student are connected not only by musical lessons, but also by warm relationships. These classes continued after Schubert left the convict.
Observing the rapid development of his son's musical talent, his father began to worry about his future. Understanding the hardship of existence for musicians, even the most famous and recognized ones, his father tries to protect Franz from such a fate. He dreamed of seeing his son become a school teacher. As a punishment for his excessive passion for music, he forbids his son to be at home on weekends and holidays. However, the bans did not help. Schubert Jr. could not give up music.
Leaving the convict
Having not completed his training in convict, Schubert, at the age of thirteen, decides to leave it. This was facilitated by a number of circumstances, which are described in the biography of F. Schubert. First, a voice mutation that no longer allowed Franz to sing in the choir. Secondly, his excessive passion for music left his interest in other sciences far behind. He was scheduled for a re-examination, but Schubert did not take advantage of this opportunity and left his training in convict.
Franz still had to return to school. In 1813 he entered the regular school of St. Anne, graduated from it and received a certificate of education.
Start of independent life
Schubert's biography tells that over the next four years he worked as an assistant school teacher at the school where his father also works. Franz teaches children literacy and other subjects. The wages were extremely low, which forced the young Schubert to constantly seek additional income in the form of private lessons. Thus, he has practically no time left to compose music. But the passion for music does not go away. It's only getting stronger. Franz received enormous help and support from his friends, who organized concerts and useful contacts for him, and supplied him with music paper, which he always lacked.
During this period (1814-1816) his famous songs“The Forest King” and “Margarita at the Spinning Wheel” to the words of Goethe, over 250 songs, singspiels, 3 symphonies and many other works.
The composer's imaginative world
Franz Schubert is a romantic in spirit. He placed the life of the soul and heart at the basis of all existence. His heroes are ordinary people with a rich inner world. A theme appears in his work social inequality. The composer often draws attention to how unfair society is to an ordinary modest person who does not have material wealth, but is spiritually rich.
Favorite theme of chamber vocal creativity Schubert becomes nature in its various states.
Meet Vogl
After reading (briefly) the biography of Schubert, the most important event seems to be his acquaintance with the outstanding Viennese opera singer Johann Michael Vogl. It happened in 1817 through the efforts of the composer’s friends. This acquaintance was of great importance in the life of Franz. In him he acquired a devoted friend and performer of his songs. Subsequently, Vogl played a huge role in the promotion of chamber and vocal creativity young composer.
"Schubertiades"
Over time, a circle of creative youth formed around Franz, consisting of poets, playwrights, artists, and composers. Schubert's biography mentions that meetings were often dedicated to his work. In such cases they were called "Schubertiads". Meetings were held in the home of one of the circle members or in the Vienna Crown coffee shop. All members of the circle were united by an interest in art, passion for music and poetry.
Trip to Hungary
The composer lived in Vienna, rarely leaving it. All the trips he made were related to concerts or teaching activities. Schubert's biography briefly mentions that during the summers of 1818 and 1824, Schubert lived on the estate of Count Esterhazy Zeliz. The composer was invited there to teach music to the young countesses.
Joint concerts
In 1819, 1823 and 1825, Schubert and Vogl traveled around Upper Austria and toured at the same time. Such joint concerts are a huge success among the public. Vogl strives to introduce listeners to the work of his composer friend and to make his works known and loved outside of Vienna. Gradually, Schubert's fame is growing; people talk about him more and more often not only in professional circles, but also among ordinary listeners.
First editions
Schubert's biography contains facts about the beginning of publications of the young composer's works. In 1921, thanks to the care of F. Schubert’s friends, “The Forest King” was published. After the first edition, other Schubert works began to be published. His music becomes famous not only in Austria, but also far beyond its borders. In 1825, songs, piano works and chamber opuses began to be performed in Russia.
Success or illusion?
Schubert's songs and piano works are gaining great popularity. His works were highly appreciated by Beethoven, the composer's idol. But, along with the fame that Schubert gains thanks to Vogl’s propaganda activities, disappointments remain. The composer's symphonies were never performed, operas and singspiels are practically never staged. To this day, 5 operas and 11 singspiels by Schubert are in oblivion. A similar fate befell many other works that are rarely performed in concerts.
Creative flourishing
In the 20s, Schubert appeared in the song cycles “The Beautiful Miller’s Wife” and “Winter Reise” to the words of W. Müller, chamber ensembles, sonatas for piano, fantasy “The Wanderer” for piano, as well as symphonies – “Unfinished” No. 8 and “ Big" No. 9.
In the spring of 1828, the composer's friends organized a concert of Schubert's works, which took place in the hall of the Society of Music Lovers. The composer used the money received from the concert to purchase the first piano of his life.
Death of the composer
In the autumn of 1828, Schubert unexpectedly became seriously ill. His torment lasted three weeks. On November 19, 18128, Franz Schubert passed away.
Only a year and a half has passed since Schubert took part in the funeral of his idol - the last Viennese classic L. Beethoven. Now he too was buried in this cemetery.
Having become familiar with summary biography of Schubert, one can understand the meaning of the inscription that was carved on his tombstone. It tells that a rich treasure is buried in the grave, but even more wonderful hopes.
Songs are the basis of Schubert's creative heritage
When talking about the creative heritage of this wonderful composer, we usually always highlight his song genre. Schubert wrote a huge number of songs - about 600. This is no coincidence, since vocal miniature is becoming one of the most popular genres of romantic composers. It was here that Schubert was able to fully reveal the main theme of the romantic movement in art - the rich inner world the hero with his feelings and experiences. The first song masterpieces were created by the young composer at the age of seventeen. Each of Schubert's songs is an inimitable artistic image, born from the fusion of music and poetry. The content of the songs is conveyed not only by the text, but also by the music, which precisely follows it, emphasizing the originality artistic image and creating a special emotional background.
In his chamber vocal work, Schubert used both texts famous poets Schiller and Goethe, as well as the poetry of his contemporaries, the names of many of whom became known thanks to the composer’s songs. In their poetry they reflected the spiritual world inherent in representatives of the romantic movement in art, which was close and understandable to the young Schubert. During the composer's lifetime, only a few of his songs were published.
How is the rating calculated?◊ The rating is calculated based on points awarded over the last week
◊ Points are awarded for:
⇒ visiting pages dedicated to the star
⇒voting for a star
⇒ commenting on a star
Biography, life story of Schubert Franz Peter
Franz Peter Schubert (January 31, 1797 – November 19, 1828) was an Austrian composer, one of the founders of musical romanticism.Introduction
Schubert lived only thirty-one years. He died exhausted physically and mentally, exhausted by failures in life. None of the composer's nine symphonies were performed during his lifetime. Of the six hundred songs, about two hundred were published, and of the two dozen piano sonatas, only three.
Schubert was not alone in his dissatisfaction with the life around him. This dissatisfaction and protest the best people societies were reflected in a new direction in art - romanticism. Schubert was one of the first Romantic composers.
Childhood and youth
Franz Schubert was born on January 31, 1797 in the Vienna suburb of Lichtenthal. His father Franz Theodor Schubert, a school teacher, came from a peasant family. Mother Elizabeth Schubert (nee Fitz) was the daughter of a mechanic. The family loved music very much and constantly organized musical evenings. His father played the cello, and Franz's brothers played various instruments.
Having discovered little Franz's musical abilities, his father and older brother Ignatz began to teach him to play the violin and piano. Soon the boy was able to take part in home performances of string quartets, playing the viola part. Franz had a wonderful voice. He sang in the church choir, performing difficult solo parts. The father was pleased with his son's success. When Franz was eleven years old, he was assigned to the konvikt, a training school for church singers.
The environment of the educational institution was conducive to the development of the boy’s musical abilities. In the school student orchestra, he played in the first violin group, and sometimes even served as conductor. The orchestra's repertoire was varied. Schubert became acquainted with symphonic works of various genres (symphonies, overtures), quartets, and vocal works. He admitted to his friends that the G minor symphony shocked him. Music became a high example for him.
CONTINUED BELOW
Already in those years, Schubert began to compose. His first works were fantasia for piano, a number of songs. The young composer writes a lot, with great passion, often to the detriment of other school activities. The boy's outstanding abilities attracted the attention of the famous court composer, with whom Schubert studied for a year.
Over time, the rapid development of Franz's musical talent began to cause concern in his father. Knowing well how difficult the path of musicians was, even world famous ones, the father wanted to protect his son from a similar fate. As punishment for his excessive passion for music, he even forbade him to be at home on holidays. But no prohibitions could delay the development of the boy’s talent.
Schubert decided to break with the convict. Throw away boring and unnecessary textbooks, forget about worthless cramming that drains your heart and mind, and go free. Give yourself entirely to music, live only by it and for its sake.
On October 28, 1813, he completed his first symphony in D major. On last sheet Schubert wrote: "The End and the End". The end of the symphony and the end of the convict.
For three years he served as a teacher's assistant, teaching children literacy and other elementary subjects. But his attraction to music and his desire to compose is becoming stronger. One can only be amazed at the resilience of his creative nature. It was during these years of school hard labor, from 1814 to 1817, when it seemed that everything was against him, that he created an amazing number of works. In 1815 alone, Schubert wrote 144 songs, 4 operas, 2 symphonies, 2 masses, 2 piano sonatas, and a string quartet. Among the creations of this period there are many that are illuminated by the unfading flame of genius. These are the Tragic and Fifth B-flat major symphonies, as well as the songs “Rosochka”, “Margarita at the Spinning Wheel”, “The Forest Tsar”.
“Margarita at the Spinning Wheel” is a monodrama, a confession of the soul. “The Forest King” is a drama with several actors. They have their own characters, sharply different from each other, their own actions, completely dissimilar, their own aspirations, opposing and hostile, their own feelings, incompatible and polar.
The story behind the creation of this masterpiece is amazing. It arose in a fit of inspiration.
"One day, - recalled Shpaun, a friend of the composer, - we went to see Schubert, who was then living with his father. We found our friend in the greatest excitement. With a book in his hand, he walked back and forth around the room, reading aloud “The King of the Forest.” Suddenly he sat down at the table and began to write. When he stood up, the magnificent ballad was ready.".
Living for the music
The father's desire to make his son a teacher with a small but reliable income failed. The young composer firmly decided to devote himself to music and left teaching at school. He was not afraid of a quarrel with his father. The entire subsequent short life of Schubert represents a creative feat. Experiencing great material need and deprivation, he worked tirelessly, creating one work after another.
Financial adversity, unfortunately, prevented him from marrying his beloved girl. Teresa Grob sang in the church choir. From the very first rehearsals, Schubert noticed her, although she was inconspicuous. Blonde-haired, with whitish eyebrows, as if faded in the sun, and a grainy face, like most dull blondes, she did not sparkle with beauty at all. Rather, on the contrary - at first glance she seemed ugly. Traces of smallpox were clearly visible on her round face.
But as soon as the music sounded, the colorless face was transformed. It had just been extinguished and therefore lifeless. Now, illuminated by an inner light, it lived and radiated.
No matter how accustomed Schubert was to the callousness of fate, he did not imagine that fate would treat him so cruelly. “Happy is he who finds a true friend. Even happier is he who finds it in his wife.", he wrote in his diary.
However, the dreams went to waste. Teresa's mother, who raised her without a father, intervened. Her father owned a small silk-spinning factory. Having died, he left the family a small fortune, and the widow turned all her worries to ensuring that the already meager capital did not decrease. Naturally, she pinned hopes for a better future on her daughter’s marriage. And it is even more natural that Schubert did not suit her. In addition to the penny salary of an assistant schoolteacher, he had music, which, as we know, is not capital. You can live by music, but you can’t live by it.
A submissive girl from the suburbs, brought up in subordination to her elders, did not even allow disobedience in her thoughts. The only thing she allowed herself was tears. Having cried quietly until the wedding, Teresa walked down the aisle with swollen eyes.
She became the wife of a pastry chef and lived a long, monotonously prosperous gray life, dying at the age of seventy-eight. By the time she was taken to the cemetery, Schubert’s ashes had long since decayed in the grave.
For several years (from 1817 to 1822) Schubert lived alternately with one or the other of his comrades. Some of them (Spaun and Stadler) were friends of the composer from their convict days. Later they were joined by the multi-talented artist Schober, the artist Schwind, the poet Mayrhofer, the singer Vogl and others. The soul of this circle was Schubert. Small in stature, dense, stocky, very short-sighted, Schubert had enormous charm. His were especially good radiant eyes, which, like a mirror, reflected kindness, shyness and gentleness of character. And his delicate, changeable complexion and curly brown hair gave his appearance a special attractiveness.
During meetings, friends got acquainted with fiction, poetry of the past and present. They argued heatedly, discussing emerging issues and criticizing existing ones. public order. But sometimes such meetings were devoted exclusively to Schubert’s music; they even received the name “Schubertiad”. On such evenings, the composer did not leave the piano, immediately composing ecosaises, waltzes, landlers and other dances. Many of them remained unrecorded. Schubert's songs, which he often performed himself, evoked no less admiration. Often these friendly gatherings turned into country walks. Saturated with bold, lively thought, poetry, and beautiful music, these meetings represented a rare contrast with the empty and meaningless entertainment of secular youth. Unsettled life fun entertainment could not distract Schubert from his creativity, stormy, continuous, inspired. He worked systematically, day after day. “I compose every morning, when I finish one piece, I begin another.”“, admitted the composer. Schubert composed music unusually quickly. On some days he created up to a dozen songs! Musical thoughts were born continuously, the composer barely had time to write them down on paper. And if she wasn’t at hand, he wrote the menu on the back, on scraps and scraps. Needing money, he especially suffered from a lack of music paper. Caring friends supplied the composer with it. Music also visited him in his dreams. When he woke up, he tried to write it down as soon as possible, so he did not part with his glasses even at night. And if the work did not immediately result in a perfect and complete form, the composer continued to work on it until he was completely satisfied. Thus, for some poetic texts, Schubert wrote up to seven versions of songs! During this period, Schubert wrote two of his wonderful works - “The Unfinished Symphony” and the cycle of songs “The Beautiful Miller's Wife”.
The “Unfinished Symphony” consists not of four movements, as is customary, but of two. And the point is not at all that Schubert did not have time to finish the remaining two parts. He started on the third - a minuet, as the classical symphony demanded, but abandoned his idea. The symphony, as it sounded, was completely completed. Everything else would be superfluous and unnecessary. And if the classical form requires two more parts, you have to give up the form. Which is what he did.
Schubert's element was song. In it he achieved unprecedented heights. He elevated a genre previously considered insignificant to the level of artistic perfection. And having done this, he went further - he saturated chamber music with songs - quartets, quintets - and then symphonic music. The combination of what seemed incompatible - miniature with large-scale, small with large, song with symphony - gave a new, qualitatively different from everything that came before - a lyric-romantic symphony.
Her world is a world of simple and intimate human feelings, the most subtle and deep psychological experiences. This is a confession of the soul, expressed not with a pen or a word, but with sound.
Song cycle “The Beautiful Miller's Wife” – bright that confirmation. Schubert wrote it based on poems by the German poet Wilhelm Müller. “The Beautiful Miller's Wife” is an inspired creation, illuminated by gentle poetry, joy, and the romance of pure and high feelings.
The cycle consists of twenty separate songs. And all together they form a single dramatic play with a beginning, twists and turns, and a denouement, with one lyrical hero - a wandering mill apprentice.
However, the hero in “The Beautiful Miller's Wife” is not alone. Next to him there is another, no less important hero - the stream. He lives his stormy, intensely changing life.
Works last decade Schubert's life is very varied. He writes symphonies, piano sonatas, quartets, quintets, trios, masses, operas, a lot of songs and much other music. But during the composer’s lifetime, his works were rarely performed, and most of them remained in manuscripts. Having neither funds nor influential patrons, Schubert had almost no opportunity to publish his works. Songs, the main thing in Schubert's work, were then considered more suitable for home music playing than for open concerts. Compared to the symphony and opera, songs were not considered an important musical genre.
Not a single Schubert opera was accepted for production, and not a single one of his symphonies was performed by an orchestra. Moreover, the notes of his best Eighth and Ninth Symphonies were found only many years after the composer's death. But the songs based on the words sent to him by Schubert never received the poet’s attention.
Timidity, inability to manage his affairs, reluctance to ask, to humiliate himself in front of influential people were also an important reason for Schubert's constant financial difficulties. But, despite the constant lack of money, and often hunger, the composer did not want to go either into the service of Prince Esterhazy or as a court organist, where he was invited. At times, Schubert did not even have a piano and composed without an instrument. Financial difficulties did not prevent him from composing music.
And yet the Viennese came to know and love Schubert’s music, which itself made its way to their hearts. Like ancient folk songs, passed on from singer to singer, his works gradually gained admirers. These were not regulars of brilliant court salons, representatives of the upper class. Like a forest stream, Schubert's music found its way to the hearts of ordinary residents of Vienna and its suburbs. A major role was played here by the outstanding singer of that time, Johann Michael Vogl, who performed Schubert's songs to the accompaniment of the composer himself.
Last years of life
Insecurity and continuous failures in life had a serious impact on Schubert's health. His body was exhausted. Reconciliation with father recent years life, calmer, balanced home life they couldn't change anything anymore. Schubert could not stop composing music; this was the meaning of his life. But creativity required a huge expenditure of effort and energy, which became less and less every day.
At twenty-seven years old, the composer wrote to his friend Schober: “... I feel like an unhappy, insignificant person in the world...” This mood is reflected in the music last period. If earlier Schubert created mainly light, joyful works, then a year before his death he wrote songs, combining them common name"Winter Way".
This had never happened to him before. He wrote about suffering and suffered. He wrote about hopeless melancholy and was hopelessly melancholy. He wrote about the excruciating pain of the soul and experienced mental anguish.
“Winter Way” is a journey through torment. AND lyrical hero. And the author.
The cycle, written in the blood of the heart, excites the blood and stirs the hearts. A thin thread woven by the artist connected the soul of one person with the souls of millions of people with an invisible but indissoluble connection. She opened their hearts to the flow of feelings rushing from his heart.
In 1828, through the efforts of friends, the only concert of his works during Schubert’s lifetime was organized. The concert was a huge success and brought great joy to the composer. His plans for the future became more rosy. Despite his failing health, he continues to compose. The end came unexpectedly. Schubert fell ill with typhus. The weakened body could not withstand the serious illness, and on November 19, 1828, Schubert died. The remaining property was valued for pennies. Many works have disappeared. Famous poet of that time Grillparzer, who composed the funeral eulogy a year earlier
In Vienna, in the family of a school teacher.
Schubert's exceptional musical abilities were evident in early childhood. From the age of seven he studied playing several instruments, singing, and theoretical disciplines.
At the age of 11, Schubert attended a boarding school for soloists of the court chapel, where, in addition to singing, he studied playing many instruments and music theory under the guidance of Antonio Salieri.
While studying at the chapel in 1810-1813, he wrote many works: an opera, a symphony, piano pieces and songs.
In 1813 he entered the teachers' seminary, and in 1814 he began teaching at the school where his father served. In his spare time, Schubert composed his first mass and set Johann Goethe's poem "Gretchen at the Spinning Wheel" to music.
His numerous songs date back to 1815, including “The Forest King” to words by Johann Goethe, the 2nd and 3rd symphonies, three masses and four singspiels (a comic opera with spoken dialogue).
In 1816, the composer completed the 4th and 5th symphonies and wrote more than 100 songs.
Wanting to devote himself entirely to music, Schubert left his job at school (this led to a break in relations with his father).
In Želize, the summer residence of Count Johann Esterházy, he served as a music teacher.
At the same time, the young composer became close to the famous Viennese singer Johann Vogl (1768-1840), who became a promoter of Schubert's vocal creativity. During the second half of the 1810s, numerous new songs came from Schubert’s pen, including the popular “The Wanderer,” “Ganymede,” “Forellen,” and the 6th Symphony. His singspiel "The Twin Brothers", written in 1820 for Vogl and staged at the Kärntnertor Theater in Vienna, did not have special success, but brought Schubert fame. A more serious achievement was the melodrama "The Magic Harp", staged a few months later at the Theater an der Wien.
He enjoyed the patronage of aristocratic families. Schubert's friends published 20 of his songs by private subscription, but the opera Alfonso and Estrella with a libretto by Franz von Schober, which Schubert considered his great success, was rejected.
In the 1820s, the composer created instrumental works: the lyrical-dramatic “Unfinished” symphony (1822) and the epic, life-affirming C major (the last, ninth in a row).
In 1823, he wrote the vocal cycle “The Beautiful Miller's Wife” based on the words of the German poet Wilhelm Müller, the opera “Fiebras”, and the singspiel “The Conspirators”.
In 1824, Schubert created string quartets A minor and D minor (its second part is variations on the theme of Schubert's earlier song "Death and the Maiden") and a six-part Octet for winds and strings.
In the summer of 1825, in Gmunden near Vienna, Schubert made sketches of his last symphony, the so-called “Bolshoi”.
In the second half of the 1820s, Schubert enjoyed a very high reputation in Vienna - his concerts with Vogl attracted large audiences, and publishers willingly published the composer's new songs, as well as plays and sonatas for piano. Among Schubert's works of 1825-1826, the piano sonatas, the last string quartet and some songs, including "The Young Nun" and Ave Maria, stand out.
Schubert's work was actively covered in the press, he was elected a member of the Vienna Society of Friends of Music. On March 26, 1828, the composer gave an author's concert in the society's hall with great success.
This period includes the vocal cycle "Winterreise" (24 songs with words by Müller), two notebooks of impromptu piano, two piano trios and masterpieces of the last months of Schubert's life - the Es-dur Mass, the last three piano sonatas, the String Quintet and 14 songs, published after Schubert's death in the form of a collection entitled "Swan Song".
On November 19, 1828, Franz Schubert died in Vienna of typhus at the age of 31. He was buried in Waring Cemetery (now Schubert Park) in north-west Vienna next to the composer Ludwig van Beethoven, who had died a year earlier. On January 22, 1888, Schubert's ashes were reburied in the Vienna Central Cemetery.
To late XIX century, a significant part of the composer's extensive legacy remained unpublished. The manuscript of the "Grand" symphony was discovered by composer Robert Schumann in the late 1830s - it was first performed in 1839 in Leipzig under the baton of the German composer and conductor Felix Mendelssohn. The first performance of the String Quintet took place in 1850, and the first performance of the Unfinished Symphony in 1865. The catalog of Schubert's works includes about one thousand items - six masses, eight symphonies, about 160 vocal ensembles, over 20 completed and unfinished piano sonatas and over 600 songs for voice and piano.
The material was prepared based on information from RIA Novosti and open sources