Romantic · 1820–1900
Franz Schubert
“The Prince of Song”
A shy Viennese schoolteacher who wrote over 600 songs — melodies so beautiful his friends threw parties just to hear them.
The Romantic era (1820–1900): Big emotions, bigger orchestras — music about love, nature, nations and stormy hearts.
Amazing facts
- He wrote more than 600 songs (Lieder) — sometimes as many as eight in a single day.
- His friends held musical parties called 'Schubertiades' where his newest songs and dances were performed — often with Schubert at the piano all night.
- He was just 1.57 m tall and his friends nicknamed him 'Schwammerl' — 'little mushroom'.
- He idolised Beethoven, lived in the same city, but was too shy to approach him. He was a torchbearer at Beethoven's funeral, and died the very next year, aged 31.
- His 'Unfinished' Symphony has only two movements — no one knows why he never finished it, and it's magnificent anyway.
- He was so poor he often couldn't afford manuscript paper, and slept in his glasses so he could start composing the moment he woke.
A few pieces to start with
'The Trout' Quintet
1819
Chamber music
A sunny piano quintet based on his own song about a slippery, darting trout — written for friends to play on a summer holiday.
'Unfinished' Symphony
1822
Symphony
Two hauntingly beautiful movements — then nothing. Discovered in a drawer 37 years after his death, it's now one of the best-loved symphonies of all.
Erlkönig
1815
Song (Lied)
A galloping horror-story song: a father rides through the night with his frightened child, pursued by the sinister Erlking. One singer plays four characters — written when Schubert was 18.
Life & times — what was happening in the world
1797Born in Vienna, son of a schoolmaster; learns violin from his father and piano from his brother.
1804Napoleon crowns himself Emperor; Vienna will be occupied twice in Schubert's childhood.
1808Wins a choir scholarship to Vienna's Imperial Seminary, where his talent stuns his teachers.
1814Writes 'Gretchen am Spinnrade' at 17 — often called the song that started the Romantic Lied.
1815An astonishing year: writes about 140 songs, including 'Erlkönig', plus symphonies and operas — aged 18.
1815The Congress of Vienna ends the Napoleonic Wars — in Schubert's home town, with waltzing every night.
1816The 'Year Without a Summer': the Tambora eruption darkens skies worldwide.
1822Writes the 'Unfinished' Symphony — two perfect movements, then silence.
1825The world's first public steam railway opens in England.
1827Carries a torch at Beethoven's funeral; writes the bleak, beautiful song-cycle Winterreise.
1827Beethoven dies in Vienna; 20,000 mourners include the young Schubert.
1828Dies aged 31; at his request, he is buried near Beethoven.