Franz, Robert (1815–1892)

German composer. He was one of the finest exponents of German songs, the first of which he published in 1843 and which attracted the attention of Schumann, Mendelssohn, Liszt, and others. His output of Lieder (songs), though influenced by Schubert and Schumann, was characterized by its striving toward simplicity and the style of folk song.

After much parental opposition he became a pupil of Friedrich Schneider at Dessau in 1835, and after two years returned home, devoting himself to study and composition without being able to secure a musical post. He then became a church organist and choral conductor, also lecturer at Halle University. Much troubled by increasing deafness and a nervous complaint, he had to retire in 1868, but did much work in editing the older choral classics.

Works more than 350 songs to texts by Burns, Eichendorff, Lenau, Geibel, Heine, Müller, and Goethe; church music; part songs.