The compositions of Franz Schubert

Franz Peter Schubert (31 January 1797 – 19 November 1828) was an Austrian composer of the late Classical and early Romantic eras. Despite his short lifetime, Schubert left behind a vast oeuvre, including more than 600 secular vocal works (mainly lieder), symphonies, sacred music, operas, incidental music, and a large body of piano and chamber music. He died at the age of 31, the cause officially attributed to typhoid fever, but believed by some historians to be syphilis. Appreciation of Schubert's music, while he was alive, was limited to a relatively small circle of admirers in Vienna, but interest in his work increased greatly in the decades following his death. Today, Schubert is ranked among the greatest composers in the history of Western music and his work continues to be admired (from Wikipedia).

 

As with all posts dedicated to one composer, I will select my 12 favourite works, listed in chronological order. All depicted CD's are from my own collection.

Symphony No. 8 "Unfinished", D759 (1822)

Symphony No. 8 "Unfinished", D.759, was left in an unfinished state in 1822. The first two movements were completed and there were sketches of a third - but the manuscripts were abandoned by the composer and the publisher, until they resurfaced in 1860. It was finally recognized that the first two movements make a perfectly satisfying symphony, and any attempts to complete it have been unsatisfactory and unnecessary. The version shown above is by the Academy of St Martin in the Fields under Neville Marriner on a Philips CD.

Moments musicaux, D.780 (1823)

Six moments musicaux, D. 780, is a collection of six short pieces for solo piano. It has rightly become a staple in the piano concerto repertoire. Little known fact: they were originally published in a misspelled version as Momens musicals. The version shown above is by Daniel Barenboim on a Deutsche Grammophon CD.

Die Schöne Müllerin, D.795 (1823)

Die Schöne Müllerin, D.795, is a song cycle for voice and piano. The cycle consists of twenty songs on texts by Wilhelm Müller, about a young man wandering happily through the countryside, falling and failing in love with a miller's beautiful daughter, and taking his own life, in typical romantic fashion  It is the earliest extended song cycle to be widely performed. The version shown above is by Fritz Wunderlich and Hubert Giesen on a Deutsche Grammophon CD.

Octet in F major, D. 803 (1824)

The Octet in F major, D. 803 was composed by Franz Schubert in March 1824. This work in six movements, scored for clarinet, bassoon, horn, two violins, viola, cello, and double bass, is one of his longer works, taking about an hour to perform. It is my personal favourite chamber music composition for seven or more players. The version shown above is by the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields Chamber Ensemble on a Chandos CD.

String Quartet No. 13 "Rosamunde", D. 804 (1824)

String Quartet No. 13 "Rosamunde", D. 804 is one of his two 'named' late string quartets that are generally considered to be among the best ever composed in the genre. The name "Rosamunde" refers to the use of a theme from his music for the play of the same name. This is not a sunny work, as he was already coming down with ailments at the time, but it is very moving and beautiful. The version shown above is by the Quartetto Italiano on a Philips CD.

String Quartet No. 14 "Death and the Maiden", D. 810 (1824)

String Quartet No. 14 "Death and the Maiden", D. 810, is the second one of his two 'named' late string quartets that are generally considered to be among the best ever composed in the genre. The name "Death and the Maiden" refers to the use of the opening theme from his song of the same name. Even more than the Rosamunde Quartet, this work illustrates Schubert's sympathy, perhaps even longing, for death. The version shown above is by the Takacs Quartet on a Hyperion CD.

Arpeggione sonata, D.821 (1824)

The Sonata for Arpeggione and Piano in A minor, D. 821, is the only substantial composition for the arpeggione (which was essentially a bowed guitar) extant today. Given the lack of functioning arpeggiones (and arpeggione players), it has become common practice to use a cello instead, although I also have a viola version. The version shown above is by Maria Kliegel and Kristin Merscher on a Naxos CD.

String Quartet No. 15, D.887 (1826)

The String Quartet No. 15 in G major, D. 887, was the last quartet written by Franz Schubert in June 1826 (from Wiki)The work focuses on lyrical ideas and explores far-reaching major and minor modes, which was uncommon to this degree in his compositions. Schubert reinforced this with a range of dynamic contrast and use of texture and pizzicato. (from Wiki). It is not an easy piece to appreciate, but well worth the effort. The version shown above is by The Verdi Quartett on a Hänssler CD.

Winterreise, D.911 (1827)

Winterreise, D.911, is a song cycle for voice and piano. The cycle consists of twenty four songs on texts by Wilhelm Müller, about a young man traveling through a winter landscape, lost in more ways than one. A dramatic and complex work, resigned and incredibly bleak, it is widely seen as the best song cycle of all time. More information can be found in the excellent Wikipedia article. The version shown above is by Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau and Gerald Moore on a Deutsche Grammophon CD.

Impromptus, D.899/935 (1827)

Although formally split in two sets of four, the Impromptus were composed in the same year and usually performed together, so I decided to list them as one entry. The name Impromptus was given by the publisher, not by the composer. These works contain some of the most haunting melodies by Schubert, and remain ever popular, including frequent use in movies. The version shown above is by Radu Lupu on a Decca CD.

Piano Trio No. 1, D.898 (1828)

The Trio No. 1 in B-flat major for piano, violin, and cello, D. 898, was composed in the last year of his life. It is a stunning 40-minutes work that in many ways foreshadows the masterpieces of Brahms for this ensemble. The version shown above is by the Florestan Trio on a Hyperion CD.

String Quintet, D. 956 (1828)

The String Quintet, D. 956, is sometimes called the "Cello Quintet", because Schubert chose to add a second cello to the regular string quartet, rather than a second viola as Mozart and Beethoven did. Schubert completed it just two months before his death. It is generally regarded as one of the pinnacles of chamber music - it certainly is for me. The version shown above is by the Amadeus Quartet and Robert Cohen on a Deutsche Grammophon CD.

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