Schubert Postcards - a brief history and exhibition Relative to many composers, Schubert is somewhat neglected in terms of the books and other printed material available about him. This is certainly not the case for postcards! For the Schubert collector there is a wealth of old collectable postcards, not only portraits of Schubert and group scenes supposedly from his life, but of the various Schubert buildings, graves and monuments, famous contemporary pictures of him, cards about his songs, and cards about Schubertian operettas. Of course, plenty of modern Schubert cards are produced, but most somehow most lack the interest of the old cards. Schubert Operetta Postcards At the time when postcards were coming into fashion, Schubert himself was rather fashionable, and being presented as the naive composer, a bohemian starving in his attic, etc. Probably only Wagner and perhaps Mozart have generated so many postcards. Part of the impetus for this was the operetta Das Dreimäderlhaus, which was later translated into several languages. The Italian version was called La casa delle tre ragazze, and English language versions were presented as Blossom Time (1921) in the USA and Lilac Time (1922) in England. Fritz Schrödter as Franz Schubert and Anny Rainer as Hannerl in a scene "Sö san a Trau' mi nöt" from Das Dreimäderlhaus. Fritz Schrödter, a local tenor star was already 60. In 1886 he had sung the part of the "Prince of Song" (i.e. Schubert) in Franz von Suppé's Operetta. The photograph was by L. Gutmann, dated 1916. The card was produced by Brüder Kohn in Vienna. Not numbered Franz Olaivatsch as Tschöll (father of the three girls) in a scene "Könnt man noch einmal so jung sein" from Hannerl. This "Emel Carten" dates from 1918, and is a double card, with the inside containing the words and music to the song. Emel Carten No. 20 Das Dreimäderlhauswas based on the Schubert Roman Schwammerl, with music arranged by Heinrich Berté from a variety of Schubert's works including Rosamunde, the unfinished symphony, the Wanderer Fantasy and other piano works, songs, dances and piano duets. It was premiered in January 1916, and was a smash hit, probably to the surprise of most of the people involved. The market was soon flooded with postcards showing scenes from the operetta in a number of different series', produced by different companies. Of particular interest to the collector are cards which show original members of the cast in costume in scenes from the operetta. Brüder Kohn produced cards drawn by Felix Riedl, and "Bunte Reihe" produced a series drawn by A Broch, which included the words to songs from the show. Das Dreimäderlhaus was followed by Hannerl which was not as successful, although it also generated a number of cards. A typical Das Dreimäderlhaus card from Brüder Kohn drawn by Felix Riedl. Note that, although unstated, the courtyard shown in this picture seems to be based on Schubert's birthhouse. BKWI No. 1943 A typical Das Dreimäderlhaus "Was schön'res könnt's sein" card from "Bunte Reihe" drawn by A. Brock. This card is used as the graphic on the notes with the recent recording ofDas Dreimäderlhaus released on Capriccio 10 550, and also appears as an illustration in Richard Baker's Schubert biography. "Bunte Reihe" No. 74 A Hannerl card "Das Ständchen ist vorüber..." from Brüder Kohn drawn by Felix Riedl. The bust on the wall is Schubert! BKWI No. 2302 A Das Dreimäderlhaus card from K. Ph drawn by A. Hartmann. The series is described as Aus Schuberts Tagen, and this card is Die Tschöllmäderln bei Schubert. K. Ph No. 613 Although the story of Das Dreimäderlhaus is pure fiction, it does include many real life characters amongst Schubert's friends. In the original book, Schwammerl, there was an illustration of a building on the Mölkerbastei, which is now referred to as the Dreimäderlhaus, and frequently appears on modern Schubert cards. Schubert dedicated much of his short life to trying to become a succesful opera composer (quite often unpaid, even when working from a commission), as this was the most obvious way to fame and financial security. There were a few performances in his lifetime of some of his Singspiel, and just 2 of Rosamunde, but his grand operas Alfonso und Estrella and Fierrabras were not performed until many years after his death, and still do not form part of the standard repertory. It is particularly ironic then that his music did eventually find fame, and a fortune for others, in Das Dreimäderlhaus, a fictional tale of his life. Otto Nowak postcards The 1910s and 20s was a time when the Schubert painter Otto Nowak was particularly active. As well as some well known portraits of Schubert, Nowak painted dignatories from the Wiener Schubertbund, and those portraits still hang in their offices. Many of his works found their way onto postcards, and are very collectable, as the quality of the paintings themselves is often very good, even if the image of Schubert presented on them is no longer though appropriate. A very representative Otto Nowak postcard, showing Schubert 'wandering'. Produced by Brüder Kohn. This card is also used as an illustration in Richard Baker's book. BKWI No. 635-2 Another Nowak picture, this time of a Schubertiade, with Schubert playing the guiter. Schubert was known to play the guitar, and their is at least one piece with a genuine Schubert guitar accompaniment. There is, however, no record of him ever playing one at a Schubertiade. Produced by Brüder Kohn. Another card used by Richard Baker. BKWI No. 1127 A rather folorn Schubert, on a Winterreise (Winter Journey). In the Moderne Kunst series produced by P. G. PGWI No. 214 Another familiar Nowak picture on a card dating from 1914 or earlier. Produced by W. R. B. & co. Salon Viennois No. 143 A number of these pictures by Nowak are being reproduced on modern cards and ephemera (for example, book marks) produced under the 'Edition Skye'. 10th Deutsches Sängerbundesfest In 1928, the 10th Deutsches Sängerbundesfest was held in Vienna, to coincide with the 100th anniversary of Schubert's death. Male-voice choirs descended on Vienna from all over the German speaking parts of Europe. 80,000 people attended the opening ceremonies in a vast hall the Sängerhalle especially constructed for the occasion. The Schubert celebrations included a prcession through the streets of Vienna with the Schubertwagen - a huge papier maché effigy of the composer. Postcards of these events are readily available and form an interesting section of any Schubert collection. The Schubertwagen being paraded through the streets of Vienna on a horse-drawn cart bedecked with flowers and flanked by young women in white dresses. Card produced by Brüder Kohn Not Numbered The sängerhalle (on the prater), empty and awaiting the heaving masses. No publisher or number given. The parade float from the Gesangverein der Öst. Eisenbahnbeamten in Wien ("Viennese railroad officials choral society"). A Schubert bust is the 'figurehead'. No printer given. No. 807313. In addition to postcards of the events, there were at least 2 sets of commemorative postcards produced, presumably for the visitors to send home! A sepia set of ten, available individually or in a perferated "concertina" of all 10 was produced by Novitas. The set was a bit of a mixture of portraits, views and composite cards. Novitas also produced a colour set of 6, drawn by Prof. Schüle, which were sold in a wrapper for 1s 20g. This wrapper has a cut out section so you can see the centre of the first card (see below). Schubertfeier im Elysium: Forrellenquintett, by R Rössler. No 1 in the Novitas sepia 10th Deutsches Sängerbundesfest series. A performance of the trout quintett, with Schubert on the piano, Haydn on double bass, Mozart on violin, Bach on viola and Gluck? on 'cello. Beethoven, Lizst, Wagner, Schumann, Mendelssohn etc., look on. The first card in the Novitas colour 10th Deutsches Sängerbundesfest series, showing Schubert with der Lindenbaum. A further cards from the Novitas colour 10th Deutsches Sängerbundesfest series, showing people outside the Sängerhalle. Song Cards One final special area which must be mentioned to collectors are the songs cards. There are a number of series' of these, produced by different publishers. Most are in sets with similar representations of a number of songs from a single artist, usually including an incipit. At least one series, the Emel Karten, consists of double cards, with the inside having a complete score of the song in question. Morgengruss from Die schöne Müllerin, a typical song card from a series drawn by E Schotz for Brüder Kohn. BKWI No. 979-5 Der Wanderer, a typical example from the Schubert-Lieder set drawn for Gerstmeyer by O. Elsner. No. 3. Wohin? from Die schöne Müllerin, a typical song card from the Emel Karten series of double cards - with the music inside. Drawn by O Peter, the young miller on this card bears a striking resemblance to Schubert.... Emil Karten No. 11 Schafer Klagelied, drawn by E. Kutzer for Verlag A. P. This is one of a series that included song cards, other cards with incipits, such as a Schubertabend with a Ländler, and Schubert cards. Not Numbered. Schubert Portrait Cards Despite his short life, there are a fair number of contemporary portraits of Schubert. He moved in 'artistic' circles, with many friends who were writers, playrights, poets and artists, as well as musicians, and it is to these artistic friends that we owe many of the portraits. They are, of course, an obvious source for postcard images. A reproduction of the famous picture Schubert-abend bei Josef von Spaun, by Moritz von Schwind, a very close friend of Schubert, who later became very well known as a painter, particularly of fairy tales. This was painted many years after Schubert's death, and now hangs in the Schubert birth house museum. All the people represented (bar 3 or 4 contemporary to the time of the paining) are known and were attendees at real Schubertiads, though not necessarily all at the same time! The scan is not wonky - the card is! Published by Alexander Scheiner, not numbered. A reproduction of the 1825 aquarell by Wilhelm August Rieder. Schubert knew Rieder fairly well - he is present in the Schubertiade picture, above, and his brother was the best friend of Schubert's brother Ferdinand. Rieder drew this portrait, legend tells us, when sheltering at Schubert's when caught in a rain storm. After Schubert's death, his friends said that this portrait was the most lifelike. This card was published by the Männesgesangverein in Zuckmantel in Silesia on 2 July 1922 for a celebration in honour of Schubert's Mother, who was born there. Not Numbered. A reproduction of the much later (1875!) oil painting by Rieder, based on his 1825 aquarell. The original hangs in the Schubert birth house.Also has Schubert's signature. Published by Postiag, No. 30691. A reproduction of one of the two Schubert etchings by Kreihuber from 1846, with another Schubert signature. Kreihuber produced portraits of great numbers of Viennese, including many of Schubert's friends and poets. He was known personally to Schubert. Published by Alexander Scheiner, not numbered. Schubert Buildings and Monuments Many of the buildings with which Schubert is actually associated (along with some that are not!), are often portrayed on postcards. One of a series of cards produced from photographs by L Grillich, for the opening of the Schubert Birthhouse museum in 1914. This photograph shows the house from the courtyard. Not numbered. Another from the series of cards produced from photographs by L Grillich, for the opening of the Schubert Birthhouse museum in 1914. This photograph shows an interior view. The large portrait in the centre is the late Rieder portrait (see above). Not numbered. A card published by the Schubert Museum, showing the front of the birth house. Not dated or numbered. A photograph of the "Dreimäderlhaus" on the Mölkerbastei. This is no 3 in the Novitas sepia 10th Deutsches Sängerbundesfest series (see above). The Dreimäderlhaus has no factual connection with Schubert, but was a setting for the Schubert-Roman Schwammerl, and the Schubertian Operetta Das Dreimäderlhaus (see above). A card of a photograph of the Schubert Denkmal in the Stadt Park. Published by WDWI, no 5696 A photographic card of the first Schubert grave at the Währing Cemetery. This cemetery is no longer consecrated, and Schubert's remains (together with those of Beethoven who was also buried there) were exhumed and reburied at the Central Friedhof. Published by Postiag, No. 30643 General Schubert Cards General Schubert portrait cards are very widely available, and come from many countries, unlike most of the above cards which are Austrian. They include some truly horrible representations of him, and are often full of innacuracies. A French card, unnumbered and without publisher details. It calls him "François-Pierre Schubert", and gives a list of works, the first of which, L'Adieu, is not even by Schubert! Quite possibly the ugliest Schubert card ever produced! Published by Brüder Kuhn, not numbered. A Schubert silhouette, by Hans Schließmann, who produced large numbers of Schubert silhouettes (including one used in the Dutch 1998 Schubert bicentenary stamp). Published by Brüder Kuhn, serie 108/1. A French card with a Schubert portrait, and picture of the birthhouse, part of a series of similar cards with other composers. Also published in other countries (I have a copy by Anstalt, Munich, and a 'Reward Card' which uses the same image, published by Presser in Philadelphia). No publisher details, not numbered. A Russian card, with a brown and white reproduction of a familiar picture of Schubert in front of a mill (as used on the January 1915 cover of the Etude magazine, for example). A card of indeterminate origin, possibly German. Has an ugly portrait of Schubert, and an incipit of Das Wandern (from Die schöne Müllerin), most of which is rests! Portrait labelled EPG 2001, card numbered 22 114 on rear A quite nice relief of Schubert. Published by Brüder Kuhn, no. 630-2. An English card from the famous composers series drawn by JJ Webster. Has an incipit for Musical Moments no. 3 (sic). No publisher details, not numbered.