Franz Schubert: A Biography

Clarity of outline conciseness and formal beauty are excellent things in musical works but an exquisite fancy a noble imagination and a lofty poetic spirit are of infinitely greater account; and no one ever possessed these inestimable gifts in greater measure than Franz Schubert.This new edition of Henry Frosts 1892 biography of Franz Schubert has been edited and revised. The original references to pieces by Opus number have been replaced with the more commonly used D numbers. Many illustrations of places and people have been added throughout the text and a complete catalog of Schuberts works has been included.Contents1Introduction and overview by William Henry Hadow.2- Schuberts unique position among composers.- Birth and parentage.- Early instruction in music and evidence of extraordinary talent.- Admission to the Imperial Chapel and Stadtconvict.- School experiences and first compositions.- Salieri.- Symphony No. 1 in D.- He decides to leave the Convict.3- Schuberts experience as a school teacher.- Friendship with Mayrhofer.- Works from 1814; Des Teufels Lustschloss Mass in F etc.- Extraordinary productiveness in 1815.- Operas symphonies masses and songs.- Characteristics of Schuberts Lieder.- Diary kept in 1816.- Der Erlkönig.- Cantatas and symphonies.- He applies for a position.- Franz von Schober.- He leaves his fathers school.4- Johann Michael Vogl.- Josef Huttenbrenner.- Piano sonatas.- Overtures in Italian style.- He becomes music teacher to the Esterhazy family.- His residence with Mayrhofer.- Excursion in upper Austria.- Rossini.- Goethe.- His first commissions for the stage.- Die Zwillingsbruder.- Die Zauberharfe.- Contemporary criticism.- The oratorio Lazarus.- The Fantasia in C.5- The first publications.- Enthusiasm of his friends.- Schubertiaden.- The symphony in E.- Schubert and Beethoven.- Alfonso and Estrella; performance at Weimar.- The mass in A flat.- The unfinished symphony in B minor.- Schubert and Weber.- Rosamunde.- Fierabras.- Die Verschwornen or Der hauslicne Krieg.- Die schone Mullerin.- Publications in 1823.6- Schuberts temporary depression.- Diary and letters.- Second visit to Zelesz.- Love for Caroline Esterhazy.- Compositions; the duet sonata in C.- Travels in Steyr.- Restored cheerfulness.- Efforts to gain employment.- Schindlers singular story.- Negotiations with foreign publishers.- Present from the Musikfreunde.- Beethovens funeral.- Visit to the Pachlers at Gratz.- Failing health.- Rochlitz and Der Erste Ton7- Great productiveness in 1828.- Symphony in C.- Mass in E flat.- Schwanengesang.- Last sonatas.- Disappointments.- His last illness and death.8- Posthumous honours.- Personal qualities.- Schuberts position in music.- General survey of works