FAMOUS COMPOSERS
FAMOUS COMPOSERS
Monograph Number Three in The Mentor Reading Course
Of all the great masters of music, Franz Schubert had the least instruction of any. His life was full of the gloom and sorrow that surrounded so many of the earlier composers.
He was born in Vienna, January 31, 1797, one of a family of fourteen, nine of whom died in infancy. His first music lessons were given by his father on the violin and by his brother on the pianoforte. In 1808 he was sent to preparatory school; but could not stay after 1813, as he had failed in examinations. Although the Emperor of Austria offered him a scholarship, he refused it.
He began composing at the age of sixteen, and at twenty-five had written over 600 pieces. He had much difficulty with the publication of his works; but finally succeeded in making a commission arrangement with a publishing house.
Just how he lived from 1813 to 1818 no one knows. His music was not published until after that time, and he never appeared in public. It was not until the middle of 1818 that he was engaged as teacher for the family of Johann Esterházy. He called on Beethoven with some songs that he had dedicated to that great master. Beethoven was so deaf that all conversation had to be carried on by pencil and paper. Schubert was so bashful that Beethoven’s first remark about some of the variations caused him to lose his head. He rushed from the house in terror. This was in 1822.
The next two years were full of disappointment; for he met with failure at the first production of “Alfonso and Estrella.” This broke down his health. He left Vienna with the Esterházys for six months, and returned in somewhat better health.
By 1826 there was some demand for his songs, but an almost total ignoring of his larger works. His application for Kapellmeister was rejected, and also that for director in the Haftheater. Just before Beethoven’s death he paid a second visit, and found the great master favorably inclined toward his work. Three weeks later he was pallbearer at Beethoven’s funeral.
March 26, 1828, was the date of his first public concert of his own compositions. This netted him one hundred and sixty dollars. In the fall of the same year he fell ill, and died November 19. He was buried in Währing, “three places higher up than Beethoven.” A marble tomb with a bust of the composer placed between two columns marks his grave.
PREPARED BY THE EDITORIAL STAFF OF THE MENTOR ASSOCIATIONILLUSTRATION FOR THE MENTOR. VOL. 1, No. 41, SERIAL No. 41COPYRIGHT, 1913, BY THE MENTOR ASSOCIATION, INC.
ROBERT SCHUMANN
ROBERT SCHUMANN