The New Grove Schubert

The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians is now best available online (at a hefty subscription fee). A version was published in 1980 in more than two dozen volumes. It was a magnificent achievement, but almost immediately errors were found, disputes were had, and at least one article was guilty of a hidden insult that was discovered too late. Some of the biographical articles were so good that they were excerpted into a series of short books, this being one of them. If you are interested in the life of Schubert, one of our greatest composers, and one of the very greatest song writers of all time, this book provides a nice introduction to his life and work. Especially valuable is the list of all his known works (and a list of the spurious compositions as well), and an index of his songs by name. This genius died at 31 having written more than 600 songs and at least 200 other works including large symphonies, quartets, and even a couple of for the stage. The bibliography is especially useful because it discusses important articles on Schubert by genre, that is important articles and books on his symphonies, or quartets, or what have you. This book can only be an introduction, you will have to go further to really appreciate the greatness of this composer who died so ridiculously young. It was written by Maurice J.E. Brown who died before it was completed and finished by his friend, the wonderful Eric Sams (who died at 78 in September 2004, to our loss).

In his late years, John Reed accomplished a magnificent task: writing and revising this book. Though a smallish book, he successfully compiled critical evaluation, date (latest estimate), circumstance, and future effect of an great numbers of important (often unduly underrated) works of Schubert. His view is in general quite well-balanced and persuasive. I think this book is the most reliable guide book for Schubert's supreme music. Strongly recommended.