1813: Schubert: Symphony No. 1 in D major, age 16

Mr. Peabody Says:

Franz Schubert was just 16 when he completed this symphony. His 1st symphony came after two earlier efforts to compose a symphony – in both instances he scrapped what he had. Mozart had completed many symphonies by the same age, but the quality was no better. Schubert was a frightening prodigy.

Andrés Orozco-Estrada

• 0:10 I. Adagio — Allegro vivace, D major – 11:50
• 12:00 II. Andante, G major – 8:27
• 18:27 III. Menuetto. Allegro, D major – 4:45
• 23:12 IV. Allegro vivace, D major – 8:42 (End: 31:54)

He copied both Haydn and Beethoven by starting with a slow intro.

Instruments:

• flute, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets in A, 2 bassoons
• 2 horns in D, 2 trumpets in D
• timpani
• strings

When Schubert completed his 1st symphony he was nearing the end of his education at the Vienna Stadtkonvikt (Imperial Seminary) and preparing to become a schoolteacher like his father. During his five years at the seminary, he had trained with Antonio Salieri. Schubert continued composition lessons with him privately even after he started on his new career.

Antonio Salieri…

Salieri has gotten a bad name from the movie “Amadeus”, and the idea is that he was nothing but a 3rd rate composer who was horribly jealous of Mozart. But Schubert not only learned well from him, he continued to study with him later. So I think we should reassess Salieri and his importance. Young geniuses, no matter how talented, don’t flourish without good teaching.

How does this compare with the first works of other geniuses?

I would say it compares very well, and the idea that someone can write something like this at the age of 16 is humbling, if not downright frightening.

1st Movement:

After a low intro it’s fairly typical sonata form, with the A section in D and the B section in A, with the usual repeat of the exposition. The development follows, then the recap is traditional.

2nd Movement:

The move to G, IV, is entirely traditional.

3rd Movement:

This certainly sounds like one of Haydn’s fast minuet movements.

4th Movement:

Again, this movement sounds like Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven, in no particular order.