"Truly he has the divine spark," Beethoven observed after reading some songs by Schubert. Although Schubert lacked formal musical training, his music displays a wealth of charm, inspiration, color, and harmony. Best known as a German song writer, Schubert shows characteristics of romanticism and classicism in his melodic style.

Franz Peter Schubert was born near Vienna on January 31, 1797. At 8, Schubert's father, a schoolmaster and an amateur cellist, began to teach him to play the violin. At 11, Schubert began lessons on the piano and organ. His singing voice was so beautiful he was admitted into the Imperial Choir where Salieri (who also taught Beethoven) trained the court singers.

Schubert wrote his first symphony at 16. Some of his most famous works include the melancholy Die Winterreise (A Winter's Journey); the Erlkonig (Erl King), based on a Goethe poem; the Trout quintet; and the Unfinished Symphony written in admiration to Beethoven.

Schubert died in Vienna on November 19, 1828 at the age of 31. Although Schubet's music was not fully appreciated during this lifetime, he was granted his final wish to be buried near Beethoven (also Brahms and Mozart) in a cemetery in Vienna.

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Wechsberg, Joseph. The Pantheon Story of Music for Young People. New York: Random House, Inc., 1968.