Grove's dictionary of music and musicians

—;
296 1821 SCHUBEET 1821
manuscript, probably
of twenty songs in eight months, under the
Introduced into Alfonao ' nnd Estrella ' 1 in 1881 by Joh. Fucho. sion,2 is a very curious
patronage of seven such eminent personages, quite unique, even among Schubert's feats of
was a substantial compensation. We do not composition. It occupies 167 pages of 42 sheets
hear, however, that much money came into his (10 quires of 4, and 1 of 2), and is in the usual
hands from the publication. The favourable impression
made by the publication may be gathered E major ; Andante in A ; Scherzo in C, and
movements—Adagio in E minor, and Allegro in
from the long, intelligent, and sympathetic Trio in A ; ' and Allegro giusto in E major. The
criticism, 'Blick auf Schuberts Lieder,' by F. Introduction and a portion of the Allegro are
von Hentl, which appeared in the Wiener Zeitschrift
fur Kvmst, etc.—a periodical belonging the end of a page—Schubert appears to have
fully scored and marked ; but at the 110th bar
to Diabelli's rivals, Steiner & Co.—for March grown impatient of this regular proceeding, and
23, 1822.
from that point to the end of the work has
Schubert was now a good deal about the made merely memoranda. But these memoranda
theatre, and when it was determined to produce
are, in their way, perfectly complete and
a German version of Herold's 'Cloohette,' as orderly to the end of the Finale. Every bar
'Das Zauberglbekchen,' at the Court-opera, he is drawn in ; the tempi and names of the instruments
was not unnaturally called upon to insert a
are fully written at the beginning of each
couple of pieces to suit the Vienna audience. It movement ; the nuances are all marked ; the
was what Mozart often did for the Italian operas very double bars and flourishes are gravely
of his day—what indeed we know Shakespeare added at the end of the sections, and ' Fine ' at
to have done in more than one case. The opera the conclusion of the whole ; and Schubert
was produced on June 20. The interpolated evidently regarded the work as no less complete
pieces were a long air for tenor,' in three movements—Maestoso,
Andante, and Allegro—full complete it virtually is ; for each subject is
on the paper than it was in his mind. And
of passion and imagination, and a comic duet given at full length, with a bit of bass or
between the princes B flat and C natural (Bedmand
accompaniment-figure, ovfugaio passage. There
Cedur). They were more applauded than is not a bar from beginning to end that does
anything else in the work, but Schubert's name not contain the part of one or more instruments
was not divulged ; the opera as a whole did not at all crucial places the scoring is
;
much fuller ;
please, and wal soon withdrawn.
and it would no doubt be possible to complete
The little Variation which he contributed, it as Schubert himself intended. [It is said
as No. 38, to Diabelli's collection of fifty Variations—the
same for which Beethoven wrote who refused to complete it. In later days, at
that the sketch was submitted to Mendelssohn,
his thirty-three (op. 120)—should not be overlooked.
the suggestion of Sir George Grove, Mr. J. F.
Though not published till 1823, the Bamett undertook the task, and the symphony,
autograph, now in the Hofbibliothek at Vienna, scored by him from Schubert's indications, was
is dated March 1821.' The ' variation is fresh produced at the Crystal Palace on May 5, 1883.
and pretty, in the minor of the theme, but is See Barnett's Musical Eeminiscences and Impressions,
pp. 312-22.]
more noticeable from its situation than from its
own qualities. A few dances for PF. solo are We next find the two friends at the castle of
dated 8th March ' ' and ' July ' in this year, Ochsenburg, a few miles south of St. Polten, the
and a collection of thirty-six, containing those seatof the Bishop, whowasarelativeof Schober's
alluded to and others of 1816 and 1819, was and there and in St. Polten itself they passed
published by Cappi and Diabelli on Nov. 29, a thoroughly happy and healthy holiday of
as op. 18. Some of these are inscribed on the some weeks in September and October. The
autograph Atzenbrucker Deutsche, July 1821,'
'
Bishop and Baron Mink, a local magnate, were
indicating a visit to Atzenbruck, the seat of congenial hosts, and the visit of the* two clever
an uncle of Schober's, near Abstetten, between young men was the signal for various festivities,
Vienna and St. Pblten, where a three days' in which all the aristocracy of the country-side
annual festivity was held, to which artists of 'a princess, two countesses, and three baronesses,'
all kinds were invited, and where Schubert's in Schober's enumeration—took part, and in
presence and music were regarded as indispensable.
which the music and drollery of Schubert and
his friend delighted every one. The great result
Whether after this he and Sohober returned of the visit, however, was the composition of an
to Vienna we know not, no letters remain ; but opera to Schober's words, on a romantic subject
the next event of which any record remains is of battles, love, conspiracy, hunting, peasant life,
the composition of a symphony, his seventh, and everything else, so natural in opera librettos,
in E, which is marked, without note of place,
as begun in August. He did not complete the
2 I received it in 1868 from the late Paul Mendelssohn,
brother, into whose bands it came after his brother's death.
Felix's
Felix
writing of it, and indeed it is probable that it
Mendelssohn bad it from Ferdinand Schubert direct.
did not occupy him more than a few hours ; but
the autograph, which is in the writer's posses-
3 The change in this symphony from the Scherzo in C to the Trio
In A. by an B in octaves in the obopj lasting four l)ars, is an antici.
pation of the similar change in the same place in the gieat C major
Symphony of 1828, and a curious instance of the singular way in
which many of Schubert's earlier symphonies lead up to his crowning
e^ort.