Franz Schubert understood like no other how to write touching songs, thus striking a chord with his listeners.
He was considered reserved and modest. He often seemed withdrawn and lived a secluded life in his own world of music and thought. Nevertheless, in the company of his closest friends, Franz Schubert was a lively and humorous person, known for his deep friendships. Raised in humble circumstances, he pursued his plan to become a composer and musician with unwavering determination – although recognition for his talent eluded him for a long time. This groundbreaking Romantic composer left behind an impressive legacy. However, his life should not be imagined as overly romantic.
When Franz Schubert was born on January 31, 1797, in a small house on Nußdorferstrasse, Vienna was a miserable place. Sanitary and medical conditions were catastrophic. Clean drinking water was scarce, leading to the spread of diseases like tuberculosis and cholera. Many people suffered from malnutrition. Rents were high, forcing even large families to live in cramped quarters. Schubert's father, Franz Theodor, a teacher, had only two rooms. He used one as a classroom, while the family lived in the other – of a total of 14 children, only five survived. His mother also died soon after. Death and poverty were thus part of young Franz's childhood experiences. Fortunately, there was something that sustained him: music.
School dropout: Born to compose!
Music was a constant presence at home. His father organized string quartet evenings, and Franz was soon able to join in on the viola. He also received violin and organ lessons. And he sang well. At the age of 11, he was accepted into the city boarding school as a choirboy. The court conductor, Antonio Salieri, recognized his talent and nurtured it. At school, Schubert received straight A's—except for one D in religion. Like the other composers of the Viennese Classical period, he struggled with the concept of God's earthly representatives. Only later would he search for something higher and write his most beautiful hymns.
At 15, he left school: he had learned enough and now knew everything he needed to know: "I was born to compose." The man—short legs, brown curls, round glasses, nicknamed "Schwammerl" (Mushroom)—was small and rather shy. But that was a statement. His brief stint as a substitute teacher for his father led to a falling out. He had to move out and lived with friends from then on, as he could barely earn a decent living from his compositions. He also performed his compositions and writings for his friends. These evenings became known as "Schubertiades.".
Art and culture in a small circle
He wasn't seeking grand performances in front of thousands. After the Congress of Vienna in 1815, which ended the hardship of the Napoleonic Wars, people craved peace and quiet, retreated into their own homes, and yearned for nature. During the Biedermeier period, art and culture flourished in small circles. "This was high-level chamber music," explains Elisabeth Albrecht, head of music education at the House of Music. "Schubert had a remarkable talent for coordinating text and music and uniting them effectively. He also gave the piano greater prominence, transforming it from an accompanying instrument into a narrative voice. He elevated the art song genre to a new level."
German trade fair as a small revolution
Schubert composed around a thousand works in a period of only about 15 years – with iron discipline, sitting at a table, without a piano. He didn't own one. Schubert was extremely prolific and composed over 600 songs, including masterpieces such as "Erlkönig" and "Die Forelle".
Besides his songs, Schubert also wrote symphonies, chamber music, 32 piano sonatas, and moving sacred music that is still sung today. In his German Mass, he captured the yearning for spirituality of his time in the song "Wohin soll ich mich wenden" (Where shall I turn). The fact that he addresses God directly in this song, and in German rather than Latin, is a small revolution. His Unfinished Symphony No. 8 and the Great C Major Symphony are among his most important orchestral works.
No desire to perform
But Schubert did not have long to live. He had become overweight and drank heavily. He contracted syphilis, a sexually transmitted disease that caused him great suffering. "I feel like the unhappiest, most miserable person in the world," he wrote to his friend Leopold Kupelwieser. He did not receive the position of Vice-Kapellmeister at the Imperial Court Orchestra, for which he had applied in 1826. He had to be practically persuaded to give his first public concert on March 26, 1828, which was a great success. Numerous songs and piano works had also been published in the meantime.
He was once said to have been in love, but Theresa Grob had to marry a master baker. Franz Schubert, who would only achieve great fame posthumously, died on November 19, 1828, in Vienna. He was 31 years old.
