Happy birthday, composer Franz Schubert

It is the birthday of Austrian compositor Franz Schubert (1797), who wrote more than 600 symphonies, operas, songs, chamber music, and piano solos, though he lived to be only 31 years old. Here is a wonderful collection called The Best of Schubert. It is a little over two hours long. We let it play and continued with work. Very enjoyable. Be aware, however, there are several commercials throughout. Oh, well, still enjoyable.

Happy birthday, composer Josef Strauss

It is the birthday of Austrian composer Josef Strauss (1927), the middle brother of the Viennese musical dynasty that included Johann Strauss II (1825) and Eduard Strauss (1835). Their father, Johann Strauss I (1804), was a composer, too, and encouraged his sons' talents, though he wanted Josef to become an engineer. Johann II, also known as the Son, was called the Waltz King. He wrote The Blue Danube and Tales of the Vienna Woods and other of the most well-known Strauss waltzes. He once said of brother Josef, who was called Pepi in the family, "Pepi is the more gifted of us two; I am merely the more popular."

Happy birthday, Gustav Mahler

It is the birthday of Austrian composer Gustav Mahler (1860), who was a renowned conductor as well. His compositions, not as well regarded at the height of his career, have gained admirers since World War II. Mahler's work influenced Benjamin Britten, Dmitri Shostakovich, Kurt Weill, and Aaron Copland. Here is the beginning of Mahler's Symphony No. 8. Enjoy.