Joseph Schubert
Encyclopedia
Joseph Schubert was a German
composer
, violin
ist, and violist
.
Joseph Schubert was born in Varnsdorf, Bohemia
(now Czech Republic
) to a musical family. He received his early musical education from his father, who was a kantor
, and then in Prague
. In 1778, Schubert moved to Berlin
to study the violin
with Paul Kohn, director of the royal orchestra there.
In 1779, Schubert obtained a position as violinist in the court of Heinrich Friedrich, the Margrave
of Brandenburg-Schwedt
. In 1788, Schubert accepted a post as violist in the court orchestra of Dresden, where he remained until his death in 1837.
Schubert gained recognition as a versatile composer, cited in the 1812 edition of Ernst Ludwig Gerber
's lexicon of composers. His opus includes 15 masses
, 4 opera
s, 17 sonata
s, and 49 concerto
s for solo instruments. The Saxon State Library
in Dresden holds the manuscripts of three viola concertos attributed to Joseph Schubert.
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist, and violist
Violist
-Notable violists:A* Julia Rebekka Adler * Sir Hugh Allen , conductor* Kris Allen * Johann Andreas Amon * Paul Angerer , composer* Steven Ansell * Atar Arad * Cecil Aronowitz...
.
Joseph Schubert was born in Varnsdorf, Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
(now Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
) to a musical family. He received his early musical education from his father, who was a kantor
Cantor (church)
A cantor is the chief singer employed in a church with responsibilities for the ecclesiastical choir; also called the precentor....
, and then in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
. In 1778, Schubert moved to Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
to study the violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
with Paul Kohn, director of the royal orchestra there.
In 1779, Schubert obtained a position as violinist in the court of Heinrich Friedrich, the Margrave
Margrave
A margrave or margravine was a medieval hereditary nobleman with military responsibilities in a border province of a kingdom. Border provinces usually had more exposure to military incursions from the outside, compared to interior provinces, and thus a margrave usually had larger and more active...
of Brandenburg-Schwedt
Schwedt
Schwedt is a city in Brandenburg, Germany. It is the largest city of the district Uckermark near the Oder river on the border with Poland.-Overview:...
. In 1788, Schubert accepted a post as violist in the court orchestra of Dresden, where he remained until his death in 1837.
Schubert gained recognition as a versatile composer, cited in the 1812 edition of Ernst Ludwig Gerber
Ernst Ludwig Gerber
Ernst Ludwig Gerber was a German composer and author of a famous dictionary of musicians....
's lexicon of composers. His opus includes 15 masses
Mass (music)
The Mass, a form of sacred musical composition, is a choral composition that sets the invariable portions of the Eucharistic liturgy to music...
, 4 opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
s, 17 sonata
Sonata
Sonata , in music, literally means a piece played as opposed to a cantata , a piece sung. The term, being vague, naturally evolved through the history of music, designating a variety of forms prior to the Classical era...
s, and 49 concerto
Concerto
A concerto is a musical work usually composed in three parts or movements, in which one solo instrument is accompanied by an orchestra.The etymology is uncertain, but the word seems to have originated from the conjunction of the two Latin words...
s for solo instruments. The Saxon State Library
Saxon State Library
The Saxon State Library in Dresden is the Staatsbibliothek of Saxony and the academic library of the Technische Universität Dresden. It is one of the main public archival centers of Germany. Its treasures, collected over four centuries, were located in the Japanisches Palais and in temporary...
in Dresden holds the manuscripts of three viola concertos attributed to Joseph Schubert.
Published works
- Concerto for Viola and Orchestra in C major (Schott MusicSchott MusicSchott Music is one of the oldest German music publishers. It is also one of the largest music publishing houses in Europe and is currently the second oldest music publishing house. The company headquarters of Schott Music was founded by Bernhard Schott in Mainz, Germany in 1770.Established in...
, ed. Karlheinz Schultz-Hauser)