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Schubert

Franz Schubert
Dates
1797–1828
Era
Early Romantic (1820–1860)
Recognition
essential popular
Wikipedia

Where to start with Schubert

Essential works to know this composer by — spread across their styles
  1. Vocal
    Erlkönig, D.328, op. 1
  2. Keyboard
    Fantasia in F minor, D.940, op. posth.103
  3. Chamber
    Piano Quintet in A major, D.667, op. posth.114, "The Trout"
  4. Orchestral
    Symphony no. 8 in B minor, D.759, "Unfinished"
  5. Vocal
    Gretchen am Spinnrade, D.118, op. 2
  6. Chamber
    Piano Trio no. 2 in E flat major, D.929, op. 100
  7. Chamber
    String Quartet no. 14 in D minor, D.810, "Death and the Maiden"
  8. Chamber
    String Quintet in C major, D.956, op. posth.163
  9. Orchestral
    Symphony no. 9 in C major, D.944, "Great"
  10. Keyboard
    3 Marches Militaires, D.733, op. 51
  11. Keyboard
    Marche militaire no. 1 in D flat major
  12. Vocal
    Die schöne Müllerin, D.795, op. 25
  13. Keyboard
    Fantasy in C major, D.760, op. 15, "Wanderer"
  14. Chamber
    Octet in F major, D.803, op. posth.166
  15. Keyboard
    Piano Sonata no. 19 in C minor, D.958

Listening guide

Hand-curated paths into Schubert's catalogue
  1. Winterreise (song cycle)
  2. Symphony No. 8 ”Unfinished”
  3. Ave Maria (Ellens Gesang III)
  4. Trout Quintet
  5. String Quartet No. 14 ”Death and the Maiden”

Most Acclaimed

  1. String Quintet in C major D956
  2. Piano Sonata in B-flat major D960
  3. Die schöne Müllerin (song cycle)
  4. Winterreise
  5. Schwanengesang (Heine settings)

Most Weird

  1. Piano Sonata in C major D840 ”Relique”
    unfinished — the third movement breaks off mid-phrase; devastating as it stands
  2. Die Winterreise — Der Leiermann
    the last song — an old beggar playing a frozen barrel organ; the two figures (singer and beggar) have become indistinguishable
  3. String Quartet No. 14 ”Death and the Maiden”
    the most psychologically dark Schubert — the slow movement varies the song ”Death and the Maiden” into something terrifying
  4. Sonata in B-flat D960
    first movement has a long trill in the bass under the opening theme — like a premonition; written two months before his death
  5. Schwanengesang — Die Stadt
    from the last songs — a man returns to a city and sees his lost love everywhere; the harmony is extraordinary for 1828

Similar composers

Same era, overlapping styles — by genre & period affinity

Works 862