Schubert

When?

January 31 1797

February 19 1828, age 31

Where?

Vienna, Austria

Schubert was a

Romantic

composer.

Franz Schubert was a famous Romantic composer. He only lived thirty-one years but he wrote a lot of incredible music. (Schubert wrote 600 songs alone!)

.
Schubert was great at writing melodies—those are the tunes you hum after the song is over. His melodies often sound like someone is singing from the heart.

At the age of twelve, Schubert already wrote his first masterpiece, about a girl working away at her spinning wheel. You can hear the wheel spinning in the piano part!

Schubert’s eighth symphony is called the “Unfinished Symphony.” Can you guess why? Yup, he never finished it. Most symphonies have four sections called “movements” but wrote two movements and never finished the rest. No one knows why.

Schubert is most famous for writing songs called lieder (that means “songs” in German). In these songs, the piano is not just background music—it helps paint pictures

Fun Facts

Both Maestros

Not Mushroom to Move Around

Schubert’s nickname was “Little Mushroom” because he wasn’t super tall (5’1”) and he was rather fond of food. Even though people may have made fun of Schubert, he got the last laugh. He became one of the most famous composers in classical music.

Both Maestros

My Dad, the Principal

Schubert’s father wanted him to be a schoolteacher, so young Schubert taught at his dad’s school, but apparently he didn’t like teaching and quit after a few years to compose full time.

Both Maestros

Karaoke tonight at Schubert's House!

Schubert loved getting together with his friends to sing and play his music together. These get-togethers were called Schubertiads!