'Full' Biographies
| Author: | Agathe Audley | Title: | Franz Schubert, sa vie et ses oeuvres |
| Desc: | Didier & Co, Paris;
1871. 309pp, plus works list. (in French) Kahl # 282.. |
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| Notes: | An early biography in French (Barbadette is earlier). It is very much borrowed from Kreissle von Hellborn, and although not a straight translation, there are often whole phrases which are recognisable. It does open with a chapter on the origins of Lieder, not found in Hellborn, and there is a short survey of his works, and a catalogue. | ||
| Author: | George Lowell Austin | Title: | The Life of Franz Schubert |
| Desc: | Shepard & Gill,
Boston; 1873. 163pp. 12mo green boards with gilt Schubert signature,
black & white frontis illus and in-text decorations. Kahl # 324. |
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| Notes: | The first American biography, largely taken from Kreissle von Hellborn. There are, however, some interesting comments which reflect the age: the writer dismisses Schwanengesang, for example and remarks that its songs never became popular, and are to this day almost unknown. It is just 133pp, with a Kriehuber fronticepiece, but no other illustrations (though there are nice little vignettes at the chapter headings), bound in green cloth with an embossed Schubert signature. Not easy to find in its first edition, though a reprint was issued around 1978. | ||
| Author: | Hippolyte Barbadette | Title: | Franz Schubert, sa vie, ses oeuvres |
| Desc: | Heugel, Paris; 1866.
117pp plus works list. (in French) Kahl # 202. |
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| Notes: | The first French biography, taken from Kreissle von Hellborn. In large format paperback, and thus very difficult to find in any decent sort of condition. The printer was called Morris! Has a nice fronticepiece of Schubert (without glasses) by Auguste Lemoine, and a facsimilie of An die Musik. First appeared in installments in the magazine Ménestrel in 1864-5. | ||
| Author: | Oscar Bie | Title: | Franz Schubert |
| Desc: | Dodd, Mead, New York;
1928. 215pp, many b&w plates and musical examples. Kahl # 1684. |
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| Notes: | English translation of this life and work biography from the German edition of 1925. There are plenty of German copies around, but English ones seem to be a little harder to find. The 'life' section is quite short, and the 'works' not very profound. Disappointing. There is a reprint from 1971. | ||
| Author: | Louis Albert Bourgault-Ducoudray | Title: | Schubert |
| Desc: | Renouard, Paris. n.d.
[1926]. 125pp. 12 pages of plates.(in French) Kahl # 1051. |
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| Notes: | Biography of Schubert from the 'Les Musiciens Célèbres' series. Reprinted fom the original 1908 edition from Laurens, Paris. | ||
| Author: | [K] Maurice JE Brown | Title: | Schubert, A Critical Biography |
| Desc: | Macmillan, London; 1958.
353pp, plus 44 pages of appendices and 2 indexes. 8 b&w plates
and many musical examples. Hilmar # 393 |
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| Notes: | Used to be viewed as the definitive biography, though it is begining to show its age a little, as it is out of date on more recent theories. Very readable, written with obvious love and affection for Schubert by a renowned scholar who was not afraid to criticise his hero where necessary. There is a German translation entitled Schubert Eine kritische Biographie, plus French, Spanish and perhaps other translations. Reprinted in 1966. | ||
| Author: | Maurice JE Brown | Title: | The New Grove Schubert |
| Desc: | Macmillan and Co., London
1980. 105pp plus 81pp for list of works, bibliography, index. Hilmar # 429 |
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| Notes: | A straghtforward, very readable 100 page biography from the famous dictionary written just before Maurice Brown's death. Reprinted in a separate book in 1982. Also includes a comprehensive list of works by Eric Sams, and the biggest modern non-dedicated bibliography that I've yet seen. | ||
| Author: | Emmanuel Buenzod | Title: | Franz Schubert |
| Desc: | Éditions Corrêa,
Paris. 1937. 219pp plus discography, several plates. (in French) Hilmar #467. |
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| Notes: | Life and works biography of Schubert. | ||
| Author: | Walter Dahms | Title: | Schubert |
| Desc: | Schuster & Loeffler,
Berlin/Leipzig, 1912/3. 418pp plus 116pp of pictures, indexes. Kahl # 1217 |
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| Notes: | A big 'serious' biography, which, I seem to recall, was responsible for popularising the theory that Schubert was banned from the family home. The early editions contain a wonderful appendix of 230 pictures, though subsequent edition ommitted these. According to Deutsch, the 1st edition was based on material collected by Alois Fellner, the revisions were based on his Documents. | ||
| Author: | Edmondstoune Duncan | Title: | Schubert |
| Desc: | Dent, London: Dutton, New
York; 1905. 227pp, plus bibliography, list of works, calendar,
personalia and index. Kahl # 933. |
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| Notes: | A book from the original Master Musicians series (see also Hutchings and Reed). The style is dated, though it is not as bad as many works wrtten around the turn of the century. He seems to accept many of the old wives tales, and of course, many of the facts and opinions are out of date (he thinks an arpeggione is a harp!). I have a copy which is part of a complete set of 12 volumes with the arms of Marlborough College embossed on the front, which were awarded as prizes to an English conductor, the late Norman Del Mar, during his school days. Lots of reprints, the 1934 revised edition updated the appendices. | ||
| Author: | [K] Alfred Einstein (trans. David Ascoli) | Title: | Schubert: A musical portrait |
| Desc: | Cassell, London; Oxford
University Press, New York; 1951. 362pp plus indexes. Musical
examples plus frontispiece. Hilmar # 991 |
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| Notes: | This one is more a 'works and life' than a 'life and works' biography. Nearly 400 pages with lots of musical examples, but no illustrations. Starting to show its age. There was a paperback reprint in 1977. | ||
| Author: | Newman Flower | Title: | Franz Schubert: the Man and his Circle |
| Desc: | Cassell, London: Stokes,
New York; 1928. 290pp inc comprehensive bibliography and index.
Colour Frontispiece, 28 b&w plates, facsimilies in end papers.
The US edition was from Frederick Stokes, New York, 1928, and had
369pp, but no obvious change in contents. Kahl # 2186 |
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| Notes: | A biography which, so the blurb goes, brought widespread acclaim from the press when it was published in the year of the centenary of Schubert's death. Probably the best of the centenary biographies in English, which is more to do with how poor the others were than that this was so good. Somewhat opinionated, and definitely showing its age, but still an enjoyable read, if you don't rely on it for accuracy. Unlike most books that clambered onto the centenary bandwagon, it did include a lot of new material. Has a significant bibliography, particularly good for finding those old magazine and journal articles. To my mind, the 1st edition has many more interesting pictures than the 1949 revision. Quite common, especially in America in the Tudor reprint from the 1930s. | ||
| Author: | H F Frost | Title: | Life of Schubert |
| Desc: | Sampson. Low, London;
Scribner & Welford, New York, 1881. 128pp including list of
works. Kahl #400 |
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| Notes: | A short biography which is over 100 years old, the first edition dating from 1881. There is a detailed review in the reviews section of the SIUK bibliography. Duncan refers to it as 'a marvel of completeness'! Many later reprints. The first US edition was in 1881, from Scribner & Welford, New York. | ||
| Author: | Peter Gammond | Title: | Schubert |
| Desc: | Methuen, London; 1982.
171pp plus appendix, index, fronticepiece. Hilmar # 1202 |
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| Notes: | Part of the 'Composer as Contemporary' series. In 2 halves, a short life (about 70 pages) and a slightly longer works (about 100). Gammond comes over as not being a Schubert lover, and he seems to write like someone writing the book against his better judgement. It therefore comes as a bit of a suprise to find him towards the end of the book calling Schubert the composer he most loves and cherishes. There are several inaccuracies in the 'life' and one or two startling statements. For example, he says that it is highly likely that Schubert inclined towards Bisexuality, and this 7 years before Solomon's article. | ||
| Author: | Théodore Gérold | Title: | Schubert |
| Desc: | Alcan, Paris, 1923. 218pp
including list of works, bibliography. Musical examples. (in
French) Hilmar # 1202 |
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| Notes: | Life and Works biography. A short life (50 pages), with a much larger section on the works. Part of the Les Maitres de la Musique series. | ||
| Author: | Christopher Gibbs | Title: | The life of Schubert |
| Desc: | Cambridge University
Press, Cambridge, 2000. ISBN 0-521-59512-6. 211pp, illustrated,
including notes, index and suggestions for further reading. Hilmar # 1259 |
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| Notes: | A good basic life and works biography, though smaller, and therefore less detailed than the biographies by McKay or Newbould. Is especially good on Schubert and Beethoven. | ||
| Author: | Harry Goldschmidt | Title: | Franz Schubert, Ein Lebensbild |
| Desc: | Henschelverlag, Berlin,
1954. 390pp. Many b&w illustrations, some in colour. In
German Hilmar # 1305 |
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| Notes: | Harry Goldschmidt had a bit of a reputation for strange ideas about the works, but this book, which I haven't read yet, is said to be a perfectly acceptable biography. First printed in 1954. | ||
| Author: | Sir George Grove | Title: | Schubert |
| Desc: | Macmillan, London; 1883.
pp319-382 with a few musical examples and large numbers of
footnotes. Kahl 427. |
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| Notes: | The famous article on Schubert by Grove himself, from the 1st edition of Grove's dictionary. George Grove was a great Schubert fan, and wrote the original essay on him in his famous dictionary, which retained its place through to the third edition in 1928. It is fascinating as a period piece, with some juicy quotes, though it shows some of Grove's prejudices, and lots of historical innacuracies. It is very comprehensive (indeed it, and his Beethoven and Mendelssohn articles were quite out of proportion to the articles on other big name composers), and runs to over 50 pages with 2 columns of small type in the 3rd edition. Grove seems to have believed all the myths and old wives tales which are discredited these days. It seems very strange to read a book about Schubert where the author talks about some people (e.g. Ferdinand's wife) as still being alive. Three editions. The article has been reprinted and issued in a book together with Grove's articles on Mendelssohn and Beethoven. | ||
| Author: | Otto Gumprecht | Title: | Musikalische Characterbilder |
| Desc: | Haessel, Leipzig, 1869.
341pp. In German Kahl # 253 |
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| Notes: | 66 page biography of Schubert, in a single volume which also includes biographies of Mendelssohn, Weber, Rossini, Auber and Meyerbeer. The Schubert biography is reprinted from a journal in 1867, making it one of the earliest substantial Schubert biographies. | ||
| Author: | Richard Heuberger | Title: | Franz Schubert |
| Desc: | Verlag Harmonie, Berlin,
1902. 94pp, + 20pp of detailed notes. Illustrated, 1 facsimilie,
many musical examples. Behrümte Musiker series. In German Kahl # 847 |
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| Notes: | Heuberger was a composer himself (I have a recording of his 'Variations on a theme by Schubert'), largely remembered today for his operetta Der Opernball. This book was in the Berhümte Musiker series, a sort of German equivalent to 'Master Musicians'. About 100 large pages, plenty of pictures, and notes. The first significant biography not to be simply based on Kreissle von Hellborn. Revised edition in 1920 by von der Pforten. | ||
| Author: | Fritz Hug | Title: | Franz Schubert Tragik eines Begnadeten |
| Desc: | Heyne, Munich, 1976.
498pp, illustrated, musical examples. Appendices include timeline,
list of works, opus number register, glossary, personalia, family
tree and bibliography. Hilmar # 1791 |
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| Notes: | German language life and works biography with large and useful appendices. | ||
| Author: | Arthur Hutchings | Title: | Schubert |
| Desc: | Dent, London; Dutton, New
York; 1945. 177pp plus 56 pages of chronology, works list,
personalia, bibliography, table of poets and index. 8 plates. A 1949
edition by Pelligrini and Cudahy, New York claims to be the first US
edition, despite Dutton being quoted on the 1945 edition. Hilmar # 1802 |
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| Notes: | The second Schubert biography from the Master Musicians Series, which replaced Duncan's, and was subsequently superceded by Reed's book. 177 pages plus appendices. The style is a little dated, though he dismisses most of the old wives tales. Half biography and half musical critisism which doesn't necessarily reflect modern views - he dismisses the piano sonatas, but he did like the Fantasy in C, D934. | ||
| Author: | Karl Kobald (trans. Beatrice Marshall) | Title: | Franz Schubert and his Times |
| Desc: | Amalthea-Verlag, Vienna,
Knopf, New York & London; 1928. 484/277pp, 17 plates. Kahl # 2446 |
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| Notes: | A book originally written in German, but published in both Germany as Franz Schubert und sein Zeit and in an English translation at the centenary of Schubert's death. It very much shows its age, not only from the content, but also the style. It starts with a very turgid chapter on Biedermeier Vienna which takes a lot of reading, and is very strangely organised, with considerable duplication. I can't recommend it (and neither did the contemporary reviewer in the Musical Times) - if you want an accurate biography, read a recent one; if you want a piece from this period, choose Flower instead. | ||
| Author: | Annette Kolb | Title: | Schubert |
| Desc: | Michel, Paris, 1952.
235pp. Hilmar # 2009 |
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| Notes: | French translation of straightforward German biography. The German first edition was in 1941. | ||
| Author: | Heinrich Kreissle von Hellborn | Title: | Franz Schubert Eine biographische Skizze |
| Desc: | Zamarski &
Dittmarsch, Vienna, 1861. 164pp including an appendix of 4poems
dedicated to Schubert. (in German) Kahl # 161 |
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| Notes: | The first sizeable Schubert biography, the 'sketch' by Kreissle von Hellborn, in German. Expanded into a full size biography 4 years later. Was reprinted as a mini-buch in Leipzig in 1987. | ||
| Author: | Heinrich Kreissle von Hellborn (translated by Coleridge) | Title: | Franz Schubert |
| Desc: | Gerold's Sohn, Vienna
1865; 619pp, frontispiece. (in German). Longmans, Green and
Co, London 1869. 2 vols, 1st vol. 318pp with frontispiece, 2nd vol.
265pp plus 30 page works list, index and the famous appendix by
George Grove. Kahl # 216, # 229 |
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| Notes: | The first full size Schubert biography. The English translation from the original German being in 2 volumes, with over 600 pages. Quite expensive, but both are in the SIRC. My copy of the German edition is in beautiful condition. There was also an initial sketch published in 1861. The original German work was the basis of most Schubert biographies until the end of the century. The German version was reprinted in facsimile by Georg Olms, Hildesheim / New York in 1978. | ||
| Author: | Elizabeth Norman McKay | Title: | Franz Schubert - a biography |
| Desc: | Clarendon Press, Oxford;
1996. ISBN 0-19-816523-4. 362pp, 24plates, other illustrations.
Hilmar # 2430 |
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| Notes: | Thorough, authoratative, up to date and comprehensive, with 340 pages, a bibliography and many of the usual pictures (indeed she apologises for the lack of choice). As she makes quite clear in the introduction, she has made a number of considered decisions about Schubert, where the facts are inconclusive (but where necessary still equivocates e.g. on the question of whether Schubert visited Beethoven on his death bed). The Schubert you find in here, shows little resemblance to the man you find in the old biographies - alcohol abuse, manic depression, syphilis and hypersexual activity is not the Schwammerl of Das Dreimäderlhaus ! I personally feel she may have gone a little too far, but it makes compulsive reading. Recommended. | ||
| Author: | Henry Malherbe | Title: | Franz Schubert: Son amour, ses amitiés |
| Desc: | Albin Michel, Paris,
1949. 298pp, 8 plates. Hilmar # 2328 |
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| Notes: | French biography. | ||
| Author: | George Marek | Title: | Schubert - a Biography |
| Desc: | Viking, New York; 1985.
236pp plus calendar, bibliography and index. 24 illustrations. Hilmar # 2340 |
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| Notes: | A modern biography from a native of Vienna, with some interesting background material. Competent, but nothing particularly exceptional, though it does claim a first publication of a picture of Schubert by Teltscher. The first English edition was from Robert Hale, London, 1986. | ||
| Author: | Brigitte Massin | Title: | Franz Schubert |
| Desc: | Fayard, Paris, 1977. ISBN
2-213-00374-2. 1294pp, plus bibliography, various works lists, D no.
cross reference and list of authors. (in French) Hilmar # 2372 |
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| Notes: | Absolutely huge life and works biography. There are separate life and works sections, the life being just under 500 pages (well padded with letters, etc), and the works over 800. Every work is put in its place, with a table to cross reference by D number to the appropriate page. 'Comprehensive' just doesn't quite do it justice. | ||
| Author: | [K] Brian Newbould | Title: | Schubert The Music and the Man |
| Desc: | Gollancz, London;
University of California Press, Berkeley, 1977. ISBN 0-575-05495-6.
465pp, including notes, works list, glossary, bibliography, indexes.
8 pages of plates, musical examples. Hilmar #2599 |
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| Notes: | A 'music and life' biography from the chairman of the SIUK. Just over 400 pages, plus notes, appendices and the usual pictures. It is excellent, as you might expect given the author. It is very much a works and life book rather than the other way round, and on most of the contentious issues he simply states the facts or opinions and leaves the reader to make up his own mind. The best description is probably that it is an updated version of Einstein's book. | ||
| Author: | A[rnold] Niggli | Title: | Franz Schuberts Leben und Werke |
| Desc: | Reclam, Leipzig, 1889.
104pp. In German. Kahl # 513. |
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| Notes: | A biography, in Reclam's Musiker Biographien series (no. 10). It is a very small, very cute delicate paperback, just over 100 pages printed in a Gothic script. I've not attempted to read it yet. It was revised and enlarged in 1925 | ||
| Author: | Charles Osbourne | Title: | Schubert and his Vienna |
| Desc: | Knopf, New York; 1985.
ISBN 0-394-54111-1. 187pp plus appendix, bibliography and index. 21
b&w plates. Hilmar # 2684 |
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| Notes: | A basic biography with chapters alternating between Schubert, and Viennese background information. A shortish, though perfectly competent biography, particularly if you want the background information. | ||
| Author: | Horst Osterheld | Title: | Franz Schubert Schicksal und Persönlichkeit |
| Desc: | Seewald,
Stuttgart-Degerloch, 1978. ISBN 3 512 00515 2. 258pp, illustrated,
appendices. Hilmar # 2690 |
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| Notes: | Biography with 118 pages on the life, and sections on destiny and personality, and the works. Appendices include a works list, poems, and letters, bibliography and notes. | ||
| Author: | Bernhard Paumgartner | Title: | Franz Schubert |
| Desc: | Atlantis, Zurich, 1943.
362pp plus bibliography, index. (in German) Hilmar # 2743 |
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| Notes: | Life and works biography. I have a copy from a special early edition (sonderausgabe) signed by the author and presented to members of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde Braunwald. | ||
| Author: | Robert Pitrou | Title: | Franz Schubert vie intime |
| Desc: | Emil-Paul Frères,
Paris, 1928. 261pp, 12 illustrations. (in French) Kahl # 2715 |
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| Notes: | French language centenary life and works biography. | ||
| Author: | [K] John Reed | Title: | Schubert, The Final Years |
| Desc: | Faber & Faber,
London; St. Martin's, New York; 1972. ISBN 0-571-09842-8. 269pp plus
index. Many musical examples, 10 pages of plates. Hilmar # 2899 |
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| Notes: | A detailed biography of the last three years of Schubert's life (John splits this into 3 phases, 1797-1821; 1821-25; 1825-28). The book which firmly established John's assertion that the missing Gastein/Gmunden Symphony was, in fact, the 'Great' C major. | ||
| Author: | John Reed | Title: | Schubert |
| Desc: | Dent; London, 1987. ISBN
0-460-03183. 213pp, plus over 100 pages of calendar, list of works,
personalia, bibliography and index. 8 plates, many musical examples.
Hilmar # 2905 |
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| Notes: | A critical biography with list of works, chronology etc. Part of the Dent 'Master Musicians' series. An excellent basic biography. Was revised (with help from Paul Reid) to be up to date on modern theories for the bicentenary, shortly before John Reed's death. | ||
| Author: | August Reissmann | Title: | Franz Schubert: Sein Leben und seine Werke |
| Desc: | Verlag J Guttentag,
Berlin, 1873. 348pp plus 18 pages of songs, including a first
printing. Frontispiece and facsimilie. Many musical examples.In
German Kahl # 333 |
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| Notes: | A very early 'life and works' biography, with lots of musical examples, one picture (a nice reproduction of a Kriehuber etching on thicker paper which is often missing) and a works list, which is, as you might expect, full of errors and omissions. The appendices include a facsimile and 5 songs in full, plus the first publication of the melodrama Abschied, D829. | ||
| Author: | Robert Haven Schauffler | Title: | Franz Schubert the Ariel of Music |
| Desc: | Putnam's, New York; 1949.
368pp plus 60 pages of bibliography, glossary, works list and index.
Many musical examples, 15 plates. Hilmar # 3074 |
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| Notes: | This is really 2 books in one - a 200 page biography, followed by another 150 or so of musical criticism, with the usual appendices. The blurb on the dust jacket announces that ''this book will immediately become the standard and definitive study of Schubert's life and works". It didn't. It is reasonably thorough and correct, for its time, but the style is really irritating, particularly in the way he delights in pointing out errors in other books, as if his is error free (it isn't); and insists on calling Schwind 'Little Billee' all the way through. He finds fault in everyone who didn't treat Franz in the way that those blessed with historical hindsight would wish. Not difficult to find: I have a copy signed by the author. | ||
| Author: | Paul Stefan | Title: | Franz Schubert mit Abbildungen, Handschrift und Notenproben |
| Desc: | Volksverband der Bücherfreunde,
Berlin, 1928. 251pp, illustrated plus timeline, bibliography,
contents. In German Kahl # 2957 |
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| Notes: | Centenary biography of Schubert, in German. It must have been an extremely popular work, as it is a very common book. | ||
| Author: | Walter Vetter | Title: | Schubert |
| Desc: | Athenaion, Potsdam, 1934.
160pp, many illustrations and facsimiles, tipped in colour
frontispiece. Hilmar # 3523 |
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| Notes: | Pictorial life and works in German. Part of the 'Die Großen Meister der Musik' series. | ||
| Author: | Walter Vetter | Title: | Der Klassiker Schubert |
| Desc: | CF Peters, Leipzig, 1953.
2 volumes. 865pp, many musical examples. Colour frontispiece. Hilmar # 3525 |
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| Notes: | A large 'Life and work' biography, published in 2 volumes, which runs to 700 pages plus appendices. Highly organised in 5 sections, each broken down by life and work. No pictures, but plenty of musical examples. | ||
| Author: | C. Whitaker-Wilson | Title: | Franz Schubert: Man and Composer |
| Desc: | Reeves, London;
Scribner's, New York; 1928. 265pp plus index, illustrated. Kahl #
3069. Kahl # 3069 |
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| Notes: | The title page proudly announces this as "The centenary biography", which it certainly wasn't. It was slammed by the critics, and with every justification. Full of inventions and embroidery around the facts, but also with huge omissions (e.g. no mention of Bauernfeld or Schwind), for which there would have been plenty of space were it not for the habit of wandering off on a tangent. He also had the nerve to set one of the impromptu's to words! The book is so bad that I was very pleased to track down my first copy in Boston - I enjoy a good laugh. The review in the contemporary Musical Times was by Richard Capell and pulled no punches. Whitaker-Wilson was then stupid enough to write indignant letters to the editor about "reviewers who don't know their subject". Chuckle, chuckle. There is a detailed review in the SIUK bibliography articles. | ||
| Author: | Edward Wilberforce | Title: | Franz Schubert - a Musical Biography |
| Desc: | Wm H Allen, London; 1866.
287 pp inc appendix 'on musical biography'. Kahl # 227 |
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| Notes: | The first biography to appear in the English language, "from the German of Dr Heinrich Kreissle von Hellborn". It is simply a shortened form of Kreissle von Hellborn's biography, though not a straight translation. Runs to 287 pages, but with very large print and margins, and no illustrations, it can be read in less then 2 hours. | ||