Franz Schubert One of the few composers who made his living entirely from composing Became a choir boy at age eleven in the court chapel Composed while teaching at his father’s school. Loved poetry, which led him to compose art song
More Schubert Composed his first great song Gretchen am Spinnrade when he was 17 In the next year, we wrote 143 more songs When he was nineteen, he wrote 179 works, including two symphonies, an opera, and a mass
Even more Schubert Associated with a group of Viennese poets and artists Turned out pieces very fast Spent evenings at “Schubertiads” Did not associate with aristocracy Two most important symphonies, the Unfinished and the Great C, not performed in his lifetime Died at 31 from complications from syphilis
Schubert’s Output 600 songs, or lied Nine symphonies Liturgical music, including six masses Pieces for solo piano and four-hand piano Longer pieces often quote his own pieces
What is art song? Music written for voice and piano Piano is a partner to the voice, often helping with interpretation Poetry and art song are intimately connected Filled with images of love, nature, supernatural images German word is lieder
Forms of art song Strophic- repeats the same music for each stanza Through-composed is new music for each stanza Modified strophic- one or more of the stanza is set to different music Song Cycle- A collection of art song with a unified story or theme
Erlkönig by Franz Schubert Based on a poem by the poet Goethe Written when Schubert was 18 Tells of a father riding on horseback with a sick child in his arms Child is having visions of the Erlking, the king of the elves who symbolizes death
Features of Erlkönig Rapid triplet rhythm in the piano evokes a horse galloping Each time the boys cries out “Mein Vater” is gets higher to show the boy’s terror Song is in minor, but the Erlking sings in major to show him trying to entice the boy to follow him When the father and song arrive home, the galloping stops.