SCHUBERT

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 10, 12 January 1929, Page 21

SCHUBERT

MUSICAL GENIUS Bach, iho splendid, Beethoven- the storm-tossed, Wagner the explorer, Chopin tlie pianist, and Schubert the lovable. Franz Schubert, the youth who died at the age of 31, n hundred years ago last month, had no enemies, plenty of acquaintances, and a very few friends, lie was always popular wherever he went, but his shyness at times embarrassed him .severely. The son of a poor parish schoolmaster, Schubert, according to one authority, "picked up his musical education here and there, in sparrow fashion." He was as poor as v church mouse, and often I had not the wherewithal, to buy himself manuscript paper on which to perpetuate his immortal melodies. One of the most famous stories about him concerns a walk ho took one.morning in July through the sunlit' fields, .lie came back and walked into a restaur- [ ant to join some friends at breakfast. k copy of "Cymbeline" lay open upon | the table, and I'the musician's eye fcl) on the .lines— Hark! Hark! The lark at heav'n's gale sings. "I wish I had some music-paper," he cried, "for a lovely melody has conic into my head." His friends quickly luled some "on the back of :i menu, and in a few minutes the world was given one of the most beautiful,songs of all time. Schubert was like that. He thought in music, and was able to put his thoughts on paper at a momenta notice. Schumann said that "Franz Schubert could write music to an advertisement." One of the first songs of all time, ""The tfrl-King," was written in an hour. Ho often wrote six songs, a day. Schubert adored Beethoven although he had never met him. The story goes that he often used to ait at another table in flio same, restaurant as.the mighty one was wont to frequent and i worship him from afar. A mutual friend arranged a meeting. Beethoven ■ was proffered somo music that Schubert had just written and dedicated to him. The great man's eye fell on an unusual chord, and he put hia pencil < on .it, and turned, an inquiring eye

towards the composer. It'.waatoo much for Franz. .Trembling in his' shoes, and frightened" out of liis wits, he rushed frantically from the room without so much as an "Exeusc me." Beethoven, .however, as.'.hc. Jay, dying, was shown some of Schubert's songs, and expressed great concern that ho hadn't known of them before. He sent for Schubert, who came along, only to find that his hero had fallen into a coma and> couldn't speak. Once again ho .rushed from the presence,-'r,o£ the master, choking with grief.' 1 The story goes on to say that, outside, he drank two healths, one to the departing soul and the' Other to the - first of their little circlo-'to follow. TJnknowiugly, it was his own health lie had drunk in .■the second., toast,. Schubert 1 died with the-.name ''Beethoven" on V/is Hps, in the greatest of want.''. ;'One..authority says: "He asked little ', of ■ life :,and gave .all. „He was no match; for; 'the world. . He cared nothing for it. He never had. a sense of 'injury, because . he. never imagined.; his own greatness." .The extent of Schubert's wbrk'was not known lor many years after his death.: *Even now there is a jirobability that-'there-, is hidden ;' treasure of his awaiting some lucky investigator.: Hear the. story of the "Unfinished Symphony.'.' : , '•■ ' "_ -, ' . iA. man. called Anselm Huttenbrenncr was a composer. lie was a" friend, of Schubert in.his early youth. A famous conductor named' Herbeck 'was given the hint' that if he* performedl something of Huttcnbrenner's he might bo given an opportunity to see a recently- : found work of Schubert's..This was 33 years-after Franz's death. .. Herbeck didn't think enough of Huttenbrenner to accept the offer, but after.five years he thought better of it and went to see him. "What have you got of Schubert's?" he asked. : The composer overhauled a pile of Schubert's manuscripts that he, had. '..'Have a look at'this," he said.' ;■:- Herbeek's eyes danced with excitement, try as he might to conceal it. He studied it, and said, in..a voice to which he tried to give a careless in-, touation,"l'll take this one'inff hay« it,copied at my expense." ' . ' ' ; On 17th December, 1865,. avViennesa audience heard a composition by Huttenbrenner hi which it wasn't" particularly interested. When, the polite applause died down, the • orchestra began th c ,immortal' strains•'of the ''Unfinished." That's why we still remember Huttcnbreimcr. ... .;, ■ ; ':..' • ■