LIFE
-1797-1828
-the quintessential starving artist!
-born in Vienna, Austria
-son of a schoolmaster (12th of 14 children)
-taught violin/viola by his father and piano by his brother
-accepted to sing in the Vienna boys choir (Imperial Court Chapel) where court singers were trained
-studied piano, theory and composition with Salieri
-tried to become a teacher at age 17, but could not follow the routine required of the classroom, left teaching at age 20 to devote his energy to composition, lived in poverty
-loved poetry and easily set poems to music
-associated with a group of writers, artists and musicians who organized evenings to perform his new works called "Schubertiades"
-Not a well known composer during his time, music was centred around intimate performances in friends homes and salon concerts (1828 his only public concert in Vienna was a success-promising future, but then he died)
-1822 the Unfinished Symphony-the first Romantic symphony because of use of instrumentation, harmonies, dynamics, lyricism...
-wrote music continuously despite lack of recognition, last year was his most productive
-poor health in later years due to syphilis and typhus
-when he needed money he sold compositions far less than their worth
-studied counterpoint late in life and revised earlier works while terminally ill
-worshipped Beethoven, visited him in 1827-dying wish was to be buried near Beethoven, torch bearer in Beethoven's funeral procession
-the quintessential starving artist!
-born in Vienna, Austria
-son of a schoolmaster (12th of 14 children)
-taught violin/viola by his father and piano by his brother
-accepted to sing in the Vienna boys choir (Imperial Court Chapel) where court singers were trained
-studied piano, theory and composition with Salieri
-tried to become a teacher at age 17, but could not follow the routine required of the classroom, left teaching at age 20 to devote his energy to composition, lived in poverty
-loved poetry and easily set poems to music
-associated with a group of writers, artists and musicians who organized evenings to perform his new works called "Schubertiades"
-Not a well known composer during his time, music was centred around intimate performances in friends homes and salon concerts (1828 his only public concert in Vienna was a success-promising future, but then he died)
-1822 the Unfinished Symphony-the first Romantic symphony because of use of instrumentation, harmonies, dynamics, lyricism...
-wrote music continuously despite lack of recognition, last year was his most productive
-poor health in later years due to syphilis and typhus
-when he needed money he sold compositions far less than their worth
-studied counterpoint late in life and revised earlier works while terminally ill
-worshipped Beethoven, visited him in 1827-dying wish was to be buried near Beethoven, torch bearer in Beethoven's funeral procession
STYLE
-Symphonies are very Classical in style and with clear forms, symmetrical phrases and standard Classical orchestration (influenced by Haydn, Mozart and early Beethoven)
-Vocal works are clearly Romantic, tender melodies of the Lieder match the words
-a 'bridging' composer who relaxed the Classical forms
-imaginative piano impromptus, style carried over into sonatas
-master of the Romantic Lied and beautiful melodies-wrote furiously fast (5-7 in a morning), also because he knew he would not have a long life
-use of word painting and effective accompaniments
-Romantic harmony-chromaticism, mixing of +/- modes, frequent modulations to distant keys
-Vocal works are clearly Romantic, tender melodies of the Lieder match the words
-a 'bridging' composer who relaxed the Classical forms
-imaginative piano impromptus, style carried over into sonatas
-master of the Romantic Lied and beautiful melodies-wrote furiously fast (5-7 in a morning), also because he knew he would not have a long life
-use of word painting and effective accompaniments
-Romantic harmony-chromaticism, mixing of +/- modes, frequent modulations to distant keys
WORKS
-nearly 1000 catalogued chronologically in 1950 (D) by Otto Erich Deutsch
-more than 600 Lieder, and 3 song cycles
-9 symphonies: including no 8 the Unfinished
-35 chamber compositions: quartets, quintets, sonatas
-piano music (shorter forms such as Impromptus)
-200 choral works: including 7 masses
-17 operas and incidental music for dramas
-left more unfinished music than any other composer (due to lack of resources and time?)
-more than 600 Lieder, and 3 song cycles
-9 symphonies: including no 8 the Unfinished
-35 chamber compositions: quartets, quintets, sonatas
-piano music (shorter forms such as Impromptus)
-200 choral works: including 7 masses
-17 operas and incidental music for dramas
-left more unfinished music than any other composer (due to lack of resources and time?)
TERMS
-Lied (Lieder): German art song for solo voice and piano accompaniment
-Through-composed (Durchkomponiert): written start to finish without repititions of complete sections. music is always changing to math text. A B C D...
-Strophic: each stanza/strophe has the same music (music and text disconnected) A A A A...
-Modified Strophic: some strophes music repeats and contrasting sections (A, A, B, A..
-Through-composed (Durchkomponiert): written start to finish without repititions of complete sections. music is always changing to math text. A B C D...
-Strophic: each stanza/strophe has the same music (music and text disconnected) A A A A...
-Modified Strophic: some strophes music repeats and contrasting sections (A, A, B, A..