In a full-length discussion of Schubert's life and music, the author mentions numerous examples of the composer's borrowing, both from works of other composers and from his own previous works. As might be expected, Schubert's early years of compositional development contain the most instances of formal and thematic modeling of the music of others; perhaps surprisingly, Mozart seems to have been a more pervasive source than Schubert's immediate predecessor Beethoven. In his mature works, Schubert borrows less from others, while placing greater emphasis on the reuse of his own material, particularly the songs. Yet borrowing formal procedures from other composers (particularly Beethoven) continues to be an important practice of Schubert until the end of his life and can be seen even in such late works as the last three piano sonatas.

Works: Schubert: Fantasia for Four Hands, 1811 (29), Symphony No. 1 in D Major (36), Der Teufels Lustchloss (50), Mass in F Major (56, Rondo in D Major for Violin and Piano, Op. 70 (76, 275), Symphony No. 2 in B-flat Major (86), Symphony No. 4 in C Minor ("Tragic") (108), Fantasia in C Major ("Wanderer") (143), Fugue for Four Hands, 1828 (152), Rondo in D Major for Four Hands, 1818 (153), String Quartet in A Minor, Op. 29 (167, 214), Impromptu, Op.90 (173), Impromptu, Op.142 (214), Suleika I D. 720 (193), Divertissement à la Hongroise, D 818 (242), Piano Sonata in A Minor, D. 845 (247), Piano Sonata in D Major, D. 850 (250), String Quartet in D Minor, D. 810 (254), Octet in F Major, D. 803 (256), Piano Sonata in A Major, D. 959 (286), Piano Sonata in B-flat Major, D. 960 (287), Mass in E-flat Major (298).

Index Classifications: 1800s

Contributed by: J. Sterling Lambert