Masterpieces by Franz Schubert: Sparkling classical works left by the King of Song. Recommended classical music.
Franz Schubert, the Austrian composer hailed as the “King of Song” for leaving behind more than 600 lieder, including masterpieces such as Erlkönig and Ave Maria.
Schubert is known not only for his many celebrated songs, but also for his wide-ranging output in solo piano works, symphonies, and chamber music.
In this article, we’ve handpicked Schubert’s most popular pieces as well as hidden gems beloved by devoted classical-music aficionados.
We present a selection of sparkling works infused with the spirit of a musician who composed throughout his life.
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Franz Schubert’s Masterpieces: Sparkling Classical Works Left by the King of Song. Recommended Classical Music (61–70)
Symphony No. 4 in C minor “Tragic,” D 417Franz Schubert
Composed around 1816 when Schubert was 19, this is one of his early symphonies.
The title “Tragic,” given by Schubert himself, and the key of C minor suggest he had Beethoven in mind.
Despite its dark tone, the work conveys moments of brightness.
String Quartet No. 13, Op. 29, D. 804 “Rosamunde”Franz Schubert
Composed in 1824, this work dates from a time when Schubert’s health had declined and he had grown pessimistic about life, which lends the piece an overall dark, brooding character that reflects his state of mind.
It is the only string quartet published during Schubert’s lifetime.
The nickname “Rosamunde” comes from Schubert’s quotation in this work of a theme from his incidental music for the play of the same name.
Trout (arranged by Liszt)Franz Schubert
This piece is a piano solo arrangement of a song by Franz Schubert, made by Franz Liszt.
Through the story of a trout swimming in a clear stream and the fisherman who aims to catch it, it conveys a lesson about life.
Liszt adds brilliant, piano-specific virtuosity without diminishing the original’s beauty.
Arpeggios and ornaments that evoke the flow of the river and the movements of the trout are used effectively, rendering visual scenes through sound.
It is recommended for those interested in the beauty of nature and the morals of human society, as well as for listeners who enjoy technically dazzling piano performances.
Litany for All Souls, D.343Franz Schubert
Composed in 1816 when Schubert was 19, this piece sets a poem by Jacobi to music.
“All Souls’ Day” is a Christian observance in which the souls of the dead are believed to return, akin to Japan’s Obon festival.
The poem, imbued with compassion for the deceased, is accompanied by beautiful music.
Death and the Maiden, D. 531Franz Schubert
This song was composed in 1817 when Schubert was 20 years old and was published in 1821.
It sets to music a poem of the same name by Matthias Claudius.
It depicts a dialogue between a girl who fears death and rejects the Grim Reaper, and Death itself.
The theme of this piece is quoted in the second movement of the String Quartet No.
14.
On the Water, Op. 72, D. 774Franz Schubert
This is a song composed by Schubert in 1823, when he was 26 years old.
He set to music a poem by Count Stolberg, an aristocrat who was also a poet.
The lyrics, which overlay an evening boat outing with reflections on human life buffeted by fate and the melancholy hidden within the fleeting happiness of life, are carried along by a beautiful, flowing melody.
Four Impromptus, Op. 142, D. 935 No. 1 in F minorFranz Schubert
Schubert’s late solo piano work, Four Impromptus Op.
142.
No.
1 is cast in sonata form without a development section.
The opening, in a minor key and beginning with a sudden descending figure, conveys the piece’s unease and darkness.
However, the middle section modulates to the major and drastically changes the mood, creating a dreamlike atmosphere as if a single ray of light were pouring into the darkness.
The anxious main theme from the opening then returns, and the piece ultimately sinks back into sadness, yet overall it remains a calm and beautiful work.
