Franz Schubert Program Notes and Sheet Music

Franz Schubert was an Austrian composer of the late Classical and early Romantic eras. Despite his short life, Schubert left behind a vast oeuvre, including more than 600 secular vocal works (mainly lieder), seven complete symphonies, sacred music, operas, incidental music, and a large body of piano and chamber music.

Schubert was born in Himmelpfortgrund, Vienna, Austria, on January 31, 1797. He was the son of a schoolmaster and showed an early aptitude for music. He studied music at the Stadtkonvikt, a school for gifted children, and at the University of Vienna.

In 1814, Schubert began working as a teacher, but he continued to compose in his spare time. He met with a group of like-minded musicians, known as the Schubertiads, where his music was performed and discussed.

In 1822, Schubert's first major work, the Symphony No. 8 in B minor (the Unfinished), was premiered. The work was not a success at the time, but it is now considered one of Schubert's greatest masterpieces.

Schubert continued to compose prolifically until his death from tuberculosis on November 19, 1828, at the age of 31. His music was not widely appreciated until after his death, but it is now considered to be among the finest of the Romantic era.

Schubert's music is characterized by its beauty, its lyricism, and its emotional depth. He was a master of the lieder, or art song, and his songs are some of the most beautiful and moving ever written. He was also a gifted composer of symphonies, chamber music, and operas.

Schubert's music has had a profound influence on composers of all genres. His songs have been recorded by many of the world's greatest singers, and his symphonies and chamber music are performed regularly by orchestras and chamber ensembles. Schubert is one of the most important composers of the Romantic era, and his music continues to be enjoyed by audiences around the world.