Time for a Schubertiade

Schubertiade (1868) by Moritz von Schwind

Franz Schubert is my favorite composer. He has influenced me more than any other creative genius, in any of the arts or sciences. No works of art resonate within my mind with the potency of his music.

Why? There are too many reasons to articulate in a coherent and accessible manner, but I think it can be boiled down to two main points: Romanticism and Melody.

Schubert's Romantic style fully embraces the wandering and dark musings of the imagination. However, he maintains Classical tightness and eloquence, avoiding the overblown excesses that weigh down the work of later Romantic composers. For Schubert, all of the passion and inspiration of the Sublime can be articulated, with effectiveness and efficiency, into a tightly structured, highly melodic song

As regards melody, it is through this that the Romantic narrative is expressed. Moreover, these tales of sound and emotion have the narrative purpose at their core, as their premise. Sometimes the story is vague, simply a progression of emotion, and, sometimes, it is direct, programmatic in design. In either case, one can't listen to this music within being drawn into Schubert's narrative mindscape.

Portrait of Franz Schubert (1825) by Wilhelm August Rieder

I could go on endlessly about these two topics, as well as countless other aspects of Schubert's music. However, in celebrating his birth date, born 1797, I think it is only fitting to let his music make its own case.

Music Is a Higher Revelation

The bust of Ludwig van Beethoven inspires Schroeder's music. Lucy is unimpressed.


"What you are, you are by accident of birth; what I am, I am by myself. There are and will be a thousand princes; there is only one Beethoven."

Well, nobody can state the situation quite like Ludwig van Beethoven. ;-)

I've cut back on the classical music posts recently, since it seems very few people read them. However, I can't pass up on Beethoven's birth date without giving due celebration. He is one of my favorite composers, perhaps the most influential of them all. I never get tired of listening to his works, admiring their intensity and beauty, their drama and sublimity.

Beethoven's birth date is believed to be December 16, 1770.

I could write more about this great artist, but his works can speak for themselves.