BIOGRAPHY AND PERSONALITY OF A FAMOUS AQUARIUS: FRANZ SCHUBERT

Composer, born in Vienna, Austria. At 11 he became a member of the chapel choir at the imperial court, and with little formal training began to compose. From 1817 he lived precariously as a composer and teacher, until he formed an association with the operatic baritone, Johann Michael Vogl (1768–1840), with whom he founded the successful ‘Schubertiads’ - private and public accompanied recitals of his songs - which made them known throughout Vienna. His major works include the Trout Piano Quintet (1819), his C major symphony (1825), and his B minor symphony (1822), known as the ‘Unfinished’. He is particularly remembered as the greatest exponent of German songs (Lieder), which number c.600. He also wrote a great deal of choral and chamber music.