Franz Schubert was the first composer of his time never to be a musical director, conductor or virtuoso, instead living from his work as a composer. He began composing his first masterpieces while still a teenager, and gravitated early on to the art song due to his love for poetry. Schubert lived freely, often without a room to call his own, composing by day and carousing by night. He died young of venereal disease. To find out more about the life and times of this great artist, consult the web resources below.