Music students share "Schubertiade" with the community

Franz Schubert was an Austrian composer who bridged the worlds of Classical and Romantic music. He wrote more than 600 songs, more than a dozen string quartets and 21 piano sonatas. Yet there was only one public concert of his music in his lifetime. (He died at the young age of 31.)

Instead, while he was alive, Schubert’s compositions were generally performed at informal, unadvertised gatherings held at private homes. These private performances, known as Schubertiades, held in early 19th-century Vienna (and sometimes in other locations), were typically sponsored by wealthier friends or admirers of Schubert’s music. Ranging in size from a handful of guests to over 100, with notable guests and musicians often in attendance, they often featured poetry readings, dancing, and other sociable pastimes.

In conjunction with Dal's 200th anniversary, the Fountain School's top singers and instrumentalists will share a Schubertiade with the community — performing Schubert’s compositions and Schubert-inspired compositions of the last two centuries.

First-year clarinet student Bryce Porter rehearses.

Schubert and Friends is a joint concert venture and community outreach event that also celebrates the inaugural season of chamber music at First Baptist Church and their 190th anniversary. The songs being performed in this concert date back as far as around 1818, the same year that Dalhousie was established as a university.

“We thought it would be a nice idea to create an evening of music that might have been heard around the time of Dalhousie’s birth,” says Fountain School Music Professor Marcia Swanston. “In those days, people had pianos in their homes and music-making was an important part of everyone’s life.”

An artistic legacy

Schubert wrote operas, masses, piano trios and duets. He completed seven symphonies, with many more left unfinished. In his Lieder (songs) he integrated fine poetry with new harmonies and motifs which was a little shocking at the time.  Much of the song composition at the time was strophic or one melody repeated several times with several verses of text.  His imagination was startlingly vivid and creative.

“Schubert is not easy to sing as it requires a very good technique, in addition to excellent German diction and the ability to communicate vividly with an audience,” says Prof. Swanston. “The students have worked very diligently and I’m looking forward to hearing the results of their long hours of practice.”

This event at First Baptist Church was spearheaded by Swanston and long-time collaborative pianist at Dalhousie and music director at First Baptist Church, Lynette Wahlstrom. This Schubertiade-like event at First Baptist is part of the church’s chamber music performance series. A number of the Fountain School voice students also sing in the choir at First Baptist.

Student Rachel Taylor in rehearsal.  

“The students love the opportunity to go out into the community and perform,” says Prof. Swanston. “The absence of a performing space requires that we find places to put on our productions in the community – but it also means that we are often performing in churches and where we are building connections with members of church congregations. Once our wonderful new recital hall is built, perhaps these same people will be the core of our audience base on campus!”

Connecting with community

The Fountain School students are well versed in and committed to community outreach and engagement. Over the past year, they have participated in other outreach activities including a variety of performances at St. Andrew’s Church, the Mysterious Barricades cross-Canada series of concerts for International Suicide Prevention Day, the Open Waters Festival of new and improvised music, the Student Musicale (annual fundraiser for the women’s division of the Dal Alumni Association), recitals for the Halifax Ladies Musical Club and participation in events at Government House.  

“Long hours of practice and rehearsal are required for each of our many concerts and productions,” says Prof. Swanston. “The culmination is presenting and engaging the community audience members with polished performances of music they love and might not otherwise get to hear live.  I know there are many community members that follow the growth of our music students over the four years they are at Dal and can frequently be found in the audience.”

The Schubert and Friends performance takes place on Sunday, January 28 at 7:00 pm at First Baptist Church, 1300 Oxford Street, Halifax. Admission will be by donation at the door.