Franz Peter Schubert (Vienna, January 31, 1797 – ibidem, November 19, 1828) was a key composer between classicism and romanticism. He left a great legacy, despite his short life, which includes over six hundred vocal works – mainly lieder, seven complete symphonies, sacred music, operas, incidental music, and works for piano and chamber music. Below, we propose listening to 5 great works by Franz Schubert.
The Trout Quintet
Cataloged as D. 667, the work was composed in 1819 when Schubert was 22 years old. It was published in 1829, a year after his death. Its name corresponds to the presence of the melody in the fourth movement, which is a set of variations on a theme previously written by Schubert in his lied Die Forelle (The Trout).
Symphony No. 8 in B minor, D 759, "Unfinished"
Schubert began composing it in 1822 and managed to finish only two movements, although he lived another six years. A scherzo also survives, almost finished in a reduction for piano but with only two orchestrated pages. In 1823, the Graz Music Society awarded Schubert a diploma of honor. For this reason, he dedicated a symphony to them and sent a partial orchestral score of the composition to his friend Anselm Hüttenbrenner.
Winterreise, D911
“Winter Journey” -in English- is a cycle of lieder composed by Franz Schubert, with poems by Wilhelm Müller. Schubert transcribed the first twelve lieder in February 1827. They were published on January 24, 1828. In late summer 1827, Schubert became acquainted with the other 12 poems and finished setting them to music in October of that year. Haslinger published them just six weeks after Schubert’s death, on December 31, 1828.
Piano Sonata No. 21
Piano Sonata No. 21 in B-flat major, D. 960, is Franz Schubert’s last piano sonata. It was composed in 1828, the year of his death, a period when he was affected by tertiary syphilis. A standard performance lasts about forty minutes and is divided into four movements.
Symphony No. 9, the "Great"
Symphony No. 9, D. 944, in C major, is Franz Schubert’s last symphony. It was created between 1825 and 1826 and premiered in Leipzig on March 21, 1839, eleven years after the composer’s death. Felix Mendelssohn conducted its premiere.
