Franz Peter Schubert (German pronunciation: [ˈfÊants ˈʃuËbÉ›É̯t]; January 31, 1797 – November 19, 1828) was an Austrian composer.
Although he died at an early age, Schubert was tremendously prolific. He wrote some 600 Lieder, nine symphonies (including the famous "Unfinished Symphony"), liturgical music, operas, some incidental music, and a large body of chamber and solo piano music. Appreciation of his music during his lifetime was limited, but interest in Schubert's work increased dramatically in the decades following his death at the age of 31. Franz Liszt, Robert Schumann, Johannes Brahms and Felix Mendelssohn, among others, discovered and championed his works in the 19th Century. Franz Schubert is now widely considered to be one of the greatest of all composers. Gretchen am Spinnrade (Gretchen at the Spinning Wheel) is a selection of text from Goethe's Faust. It was set by Schubert in 1814, Op.2, D 118, and was his first successful lied. A challenging work for both pianist and singer, Schubert's setting for soprano voice has been transposed for mezzo-soprano voice as well.Franz Peter Schubert (German pronunciation:.