Franz Peter Schubert

Franz Peter Schubert - Composers, Facts and Family

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Franz Peter Schubert's Personal Details

Franz Peter Schubert was an Austrian composer of the early 19th century

InformationDetail
BirthdayJanuary 31, 1797
Died onNovember 19, 1828
NationalityAustrian
FamousMusicians, Composers
SiblingsFerdinand Schubert, Ignaz Schubert, Karl Schubert, Maria Theresia Schubert
Universities
  • Stadtkonvikt (1808–1813)
  • Normalhauptschule
Birth PlaceAlsergrund, Vienna, Austria
GenderMale
FatherFranz Theodor Schubert
MotherElisabeth
Sun SignAquarius
Born inAlsergrund, Vienna, Austria
Famous asComposer
Died at Age31

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Franz Peter Schubert's photo

Who is Franz Peter Schubert?

Franz Peter Schubert was an Austrian composer of the early 19th century who became famous only after his early death. His talent as a composer of classical and romantic compositions was mostly ignored while he was alive but became significant only in the 19th century. Though his life was very short, he was a prolific composer who used to create many compositions in one single day. His works were greatly influenced by the writings of Goethe and were based mainly on the piano. His sonatas on the piano used melodies that had long lines instead of the traditional short themes and the romantic songs or ‘Lieder’ in the German language written by him put greater importance on the piano than on any other instrument as an accompaniment. He was not that well known in his early years as he was neither a literary person like many of the other composers during that period nor was a great performer or a famous conductor. But during the short time he was alive he wrote more than six hundred songs, nine symphonies, a large number of compositions for the piano and five masses. His masterpieces which brought enjoyment to many music lovers all over the world came to light only after he had passed away.

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Childhood & Early Life

Franz Peter Schubert was born on January 31, 1797 in Alsergrund, Vienna, Austria. His father Franz Theodor Schubert was a schoolmaster who founded his own school, and his mother Elizabeth Vietz was engaged in providing domestic services to a Viennese household before her marriage.

He had three elder brothers named Ferdinand, Ignaz and Petrus and a sister named Maria Theresia. Out of the fourteen children that his father had (including an illegitimate child), nine had died in their infancy.

He learnt to play the violin from his father and his elder brother Ignaz when he was only six years old and also learnt to play the organ from an organ player named Michael Holzerat the ‘Imperial Court Chapel’.

His talent for performing vocal compositions was recognized by the leading authority in music in Vienna, Antonio Salieri, in 1804.

At the age of eleven he joined the choir of the ‘Imperial Court Chapel’ after passing the entrance examination and received his formal education at ‘Stadtkonvikt’ from 1808 to 1813.

He not only sang in the choir but also played the violin in the orchestra and was also an exceptional student. He left the choir, but not the seminary, at the age of fifteen when he could nolonger sing as before due to a change in his voice.

In 1813 Franz left ‘Stadtkonvikt’ and went home after which he joined the ‘Normalhauptschule’ to obtain training as a teacher.

During his educational days he was befriended by a 20-year-old law student named Joseph Spaun who formed an orchestra made up of his fellow students.

Budding Composer

Franz Peter Schubert composed his earliest ballads while he was still in high school including ‘Hage’s Klage’ in 1811 styled on those written by Johann Rudolf Zumsteeg.

In 1814 he composed his first poem ‘Gretchen am Spinnrade’ or ‘Gretchen at the Spinning Wheel’ based on ‘Faust’ written by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.

He also composed the music of some solos of Mass which were dedicated to his lady friend Therese Grob. Haydn’s compositions had a great influence on his first symphony.

During the same year he also composed five more musical pieces based on songs written by Goethe.

In late 1814 he joined his father’s school as an assistant teacher. Around this time, he met various actors, singers, lawyers and poets who had a great influence on the young composer’s life. In the same year the ‘Mass’ composed by him was performed in Vienna.

Coming of Age

After 1814, Franz Peter Schubert started to hold private concerts at the homes of his wealthy acquaintances with the help of the singers and actors whom he befriended during this period.

He also wrote a large number of compositions in 1815 which included more than one-hundred and forty-four songs, two ‘Masses’and one symphony.

He set the music for the poems written by a large number of poets such as F.G. Klopstock, J.G. Von Herder, Friedrich von Schiller and others.

He went on composing symphonies even while working as a schoolteacher in his father’s school and wrote musical pieces for ‘Landler’, an Austrian waltz, for which he became quite famous.

He left his teacher’s post in 1816 when his application for a better post was rejected by the school authorities and decided to follow a carefree and unconventional lifestyle. From this time onwards he did not work but depended on his compositions to earn money for his livelihood.

He started performing ‘Schubertiads’, which were his latest compositions, with his friends at various Viennese homes and coffee houses.

Franz moved in with his friend Franz von Schober in 1817 and wrote a large number of sonatas to be played on the piano and composed almost fifty songs during this period.

In March 1818 he appeared on the public stage for the first time to perform some of the compositions that he had written.

In July 1818 he was appointed as a member of the Count Esterhazy’ household and during his stay with the household he composed a large number of piano duets.

He wrote his famous quintet for the piano while holidaying in upper Austria which was soon followed by other compositions such as ‘Wanderer Fantasy’, ‘Oratorio Lazarus’ and others.

Height of Fame

The musical career of Franz Peter Schubert reached its highest point between 1820 and 1823 when his operettas and songs started to be performed by both professionals and amateurs on the public stage and private concerts.

In 1820 he wrote the operetta ‘Die Zwillingsbruder’ or ‘The Twin Brothers’ which was successfully performed in the month of June in the same year.

He also composed the music for the play ‘Die Zauberharfe’ or ‘The Magic Harp’ which was performed on August 1820.

In 1821 Schubert’s music got a lot of attention when the ‘Erlkonig’ was performed and he gained some more new friends such as painter Moriz von Schwind and others. In the same year he composed his seventh symphony though he did not give it the form to be played by any orchestra.

In 1822 he started on his eighth symphony but could complete only two movements as he had fallen ill by that time. By the end of this year he was in financial doldrums and his friends left him.

During the seven days that he spent at the ‘Vienna General Hospital’, Franz Peter Schubert was somehow able to start composing a few of his famous songs which included ‘Die Schone Mullerin’ or ‘The Fair Maid of the Mill’ and also an octet for string and woodwind instruments.

During the period 1826-27, Franz Peter Schubert saw the recurrence of his illness but also composed two of his greatest masterpieces despite his deteriorating health.

He acted as a torchbearer during the funeral of Beethoven in 1827 and wrote his greatest masterpiece during this time.He completed the two series of ‘Impromptus’ for the piano at the end of 1827.

On March 26, 1828 he took a part in a concert where his own works were performed and also attended the first anniversary of Beethoven’s death on the same day.

Major Works

Franz Peter Schubert had written numerous compositions which include sonatas for the piano, waltzes, trios, quarters and quintets for the piano, chamber sonatas and symphonies.

In 1827 he wrote his greatest masterpiece ‘Die Winterreise’ or ‘A Winter’s Journey’ which was based on a set of twenty-four poems written by Wilhelm Muller describing the journey of a young man suffering from his lover’s rejection through the wasteland in winter.

Personal Life & Legacy

In 1814, Franz Peter Schubert fell in love with a soprano soloist named Therese Groband wanted to marry her but could not because of the harsh marriage law which required proof that heearned enough to support a family.

He contracted syphilis in May 1822 and was admitted for treatment to the ‘Vienna General Hospital’and was discharged after seven days.

His illness reappeared in 1826 and on November 11, 1828 he started having headache and nausea which were diagnosed to be caused by typhoid. He died eight days later, on November 19, 1828. He was only 31.

In 1830, money was raised through a fund to place a memorial stone over his grave.

In 1872, a memorial in his honor was constructed at the Stadtpark in Vienna.

In 1888, his grave was moved to Zentralfriedhof, which is the largest cemetery in Vienna and was placed beside musical geniuses like Johannes Brahms and Johann Strauss II.

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Franz Peter Schubert biography timelines

  • // 31st Jan 1797
    Franz Peter Schubert was born on January 31, 1797 in Alsergrund, Vienna, Austria. His father Franz Theodor Schubert was a schoolmaster who founded his own school, and his mother Elizabeth Vietz was engaged in providing domestic services to a Viennese household before her marriage.
  • // 1804
    His talent for performing vocal compositions was recognized by the leading authority in music in Vienna, Antonio Salieri, in 1804.
  • // 1808 To 1813
    At the age of eleven he joined the choir of the ‘Imperial Court Chapel’ after passing the entrance examination and received his formal education at ‘Stadtkonvikt’ from 1808 to 1813.
  • // 1811
    Franz Peter Schubert composed his earliest ballads while he was still in high school including ‘Hage’s Klage’ in 1811 styled on those written by Johann Rudolf Zumsteeg.
  • // 1813
    In 1813 Franz left ‘Stadtkonvikt’ and went home after which he joined the ‘Normalhauptschule’ to obtain training as a teacher.
  • // 1814
    In 1814 he composed his first poem ‘Gretchen am Spinnrade’ or ‘Gretchen at the Spinning Wheel’ based on ‘Faust’ written by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
  • // 1814
    In late 1814 he joined his father’s school as an assistant teacher. Around this time, he met various actors, singers, lawyers and poets who had a great influence on the young composer’s life. In the same year the ‘Mass’ composed by him was performed in Vienna.
  • // 1814
    After 1814, Franz Peter Schubert started to hold private concerts at the homes of his wealthy acquaintances with the help of the singers and actors whom he befriended during this period.
  • // 1814
    In 1814, Franz Peter Schubert fell in love with a soprano soloist named Therese Groband wanted to marry her but could not because of the harsh marriage law which required proof that heearned enough to support a family.
  • // 1815
    He also wrote a large number of compositions in 1815 which included more than one-hundred and forty-four songs, two ‘Masses’and one symphony.
  • // 1816
    He left his teacher’s post in 1816 when his application for a better post was rejected by the school authorities and decided to follow a carefree and unconventional lifestyle. From this time onwards he did not work but depended on his compositions to earn money for his livelihood.
  • // 1817
    Franz moved in with his friend Franz von Schober in 1817 and wrote a large number of sonatas to be played on the piano and composed almost fifty songs during this period.
  • // Mar 1818
    In March 1818 he appeared on the public stage for the first time to perform some of the compositions that he had written.
  • // Jul 1818
    In July 1818 he was appointed as a member of the Count Esterhazy’ household and during his stay with the household he composed a large number of piano duets.
  • // 1820 To 1823
    The musical career of Franz Peter Schubert reached its highest point between 1820 and 1823 when his operettas and songs started to be performed by both professionals and amateurs on the public stage and private concerts.
  • // 1820
    In 1820 he wrote the operetta ‘Die Zwillingsbruder’ or ‘The Twin Brothers’ which was successfully performed in the month of June in the same year.
  • // Aug 1820
    He also composed the music for the play ‘Die Zauberharfe’ or ‘The Magic Harp’ which was performed on August 1820.
  • // 1821
    In 1821 Schubert’s music got a lot of attention when the ‘Erlkonig’ was performed and he gained some more new friends such as painter Moriz von Schwind and others. In the same year he composed his seventh symphony though he did not give it the form to be played by any orchestra.
  • // 1822
    In 1822 he started on his eighth symphony but could complete only two movements as he had fallen ill by that time. By the end of this year he was in financial doldrums and his friends left him.
  • // 1822
    He contracted syphilis in May 1822 and was admitted for treatment to the ‘Vienna General Hospital’and was discharged after seven days.
  • // 1826 To 1827
    During the period 1826-27, Franz Peter Schubert saw the recurrence of his illness but also composed two of his greatest masterpieces despite his deteriorating health.
  • // 1826 To 11th Nov 1828
    His illness reappeared in 1826 and on November 11, 1828 he started having headache and nausea which were diagnosed to be caused by typhoid. He died eight days later, on November 19, 1828. He was only 31.
  • // 1827
    He acted as a torchbearer during the funeral of Beethoven in 1827 and wrote his greatest masterpiece during this time.He completed the two series of ‘Impromptus’ for the piano at the end of 1827.
  • // 1827
    In 1827 he wrote his greatest masterpiece ‘Die Winterreise’ or ‘A Winter’s Journey’ which was based on a set of twenty-four poems written by Wilhelm Muller describing the journey of a young man suffering from his lover’s rejection through the wasteland in winter.
  • // 26th Mar 1828
    On March 26, 1828 he took a part in a concert where his own works were performed and also attended the first anniversary of Beethoven’s death on the same day.

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Franz Peter Schubert's FAQ

  • What is Franz Peter Schubert birthday?

    Franz Peter Schubert was born at 1797-01-31

  • When was Franz Peter Schubert died?

    Franz Peter Schubert was died at 1828-11-19

  • Where was Franz Peter Schubert died?

    Franz Peter Schubert was died in Vienna

  • Which age was Franz Peter Schubert died?

    Franz Peter Schubert was died at age 31

  • Where is Franz Peter Schubert's birth place?

    Franz Peter Schubert was born in Alsergrund, Vienna, Austria

  • What is Franz Peter Schubert nationalities?

    Franz Peter Schubert's nationalities is Austrian

  • Who is Franz Peter Schubert siblings?

    Franz Peter Schubert's siblings is Ferdinand Schubert, Ignaz Schubert, Karl Schubert, Maria Theresia Schubert

  • What was Franz Peter Schubert universities?

    Franz Peter Schubert studied at Stadtkonvikt (1808–1813), Normalhauptschule

  • Who is Franz Peter Schubert's father?

    Franz Peter Schubert's father is Franz Theodor Schubert

  • Who is Franz Peter Schubert's mother?

    Franz Peter Schubert's mother is Elisabeth

  • What is Franz Peter Schubert's sun sign?

    Franz Peter Schubert is Aquarius

  • How famous is Franz Peter Schubert?

    Franz Peter Schubert is famouse as Composer