Synopsis
On today’s date in 1826, Franz Schubert completed what would be his last string quartet, published posthumously as his Opus 161.
1826 was a rather frustrating year for Schubert. Prospects for commissions didn’t pan out, and he wrote the following note to the oldest publishing house in Germany, Breitkopf & Härtel:
“In the hope that my name is not wholly unknown to you, I am venturing to ask whether you would be disposed to take over at a moderate price some of my compositions, for I very much want to become as well-known as possible in Germany. Your selection could be made from the following: songs, strings quartets, piano sonatas, etc. etc. Signed, Franz Schubert, Auf der Wieden #100, in Frühwirth’s house, fifth staircase, second floor — Vienna”
The publishing firm responded with a proposal to try out one or two of Schubert’s piano pieces, but as payment only offered him free copies of the printed music. Schubert was definitely not “as well-known as possible” in Germany, and nine years earlier, when he submitted his now-famous setting of Goethe’s poem, “The Erl King” to Breitkopf and Härtel, they confused him with another composer named Franz Schubert who lived in Dresden.
Music Played in Today's Program
Franz Schubert (1795-1828): String Quartet No. 15; Emerson String Quartet; DG 459 151
On This Day
Births
1722 - Bohemian composer Georg Anton (Jirí Antonín) Benda, in Alt-Benatek, Bohemia
1861 - Russian composer Anton Arensky, in Novgorod (Gregorian date: July 12)
1892 - Hungarian composer Laszlo Lajtha, in Budapest
1958 - Finnish composer and conductor, Esa-Pekka Salonen, in Helsinki
Deaths
1987 - Spanish composer Federico Mompou, 94, in Barcelona
Premieres
1924 - Gershwin: musical revue, George White's Scandals of 1924, at the Apollo Theater in New York City. This show includes the classic Gershwin song “Somebody Loves Me” (lyrics by B.G. De Sylva and Ballard MacDonald).
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About Composers Datebook®
Host John Birge presents a daily snapshot of composers past and present, with timely information, intriguing musical events and appropriate, accessible music related to each.
He has been hosting, producing and performing classical music for more than 25 years. Since 1997, he has been hosting on Minnesota Public Radio's Classical Music Service. He played French horn for the Cincinnati Symphony and Pops Orchestra and performed with them on their centennial tour of Europe in 1995. He was trained at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Eastman School of Music and Interlochen Arts Academy.