Schubert, at the age of twenty-four, had composed a great quantity of music, but none of it had as yet been published.  He was almost unknown, and publishers were unwilling to undertake issuing the work of an unknown man.  When his songs were performed by good artists, as had been done a number of times, they won instant recognition and success.  Seeing that the publishers were unwilling to print the work of an unknown musician, two of Schubert’s friends undertook to publish the “Erlking,” one of his first songs, at their own risk.  At the Sonnleithner mansion, where musicals were regularly held, the “Erlking” had been much applauded, and when it was decided to have it published, the decision was announced.  A hundred copies were at once subscribed for, and with this encouragement the engraving of the “Erlking” and “Gretchen at the Spinning Wheel” was forthwith begun.  The pieces were sold by the music publishers on commission.  The plan succeeded beyond expectation, so that other songs were issued in the same way, until, when seven had appeared the publishers were willing to risk the engraving of other songs themselves.  Before all this had taken place, Johann Vogl, an admired opera singer in Vienna at the time, had learned Schubert’s “Erlking,” and had sung it in March, 1821, at a public concert patronized by royalty.  The song was received with storms of applause.  Schober, who knew the singer, constantly talked to him about the gifts of his friend and begged him to come and see Schubert.  At last one day he consented.  They found the composer hard at work as usual, music sheets covering the floor as well as the table and chair.  Vogl, used to the highest society, made himself quite at home and did his best to put Schubert at his ease, but the composer remained shy and confused.  The singer began looking over some manuscripts.  When he left he shook Schubert’s hand warmly, remarking; “There is stuff in you, but you squander your fine thoughts instead of making the most of them.”

Vogl had been much impressed by what he had seen that day, and repeated his visit.  Before long the two were close friends.  Schubert wrote to his brother:  “When Vogl sings and I accompany him, we seem for the moment to be one.”  Vogl wrote of Schubert’s songs that they were “truly divine inspirations.”

Schubert’s residence with his friend Schober only lasted six months, for Schober’s brother came to live with him, and the composer had to shift for himself.  Teaching was exceedingly distasteful to him, yet as his music did not bring in anything for years after he left home, he had to find some means of making a living.  In these straits he accepted a position as music teacher in the family of Count Johann Esterhazy.  This meant that he must live with the family in their Vienna home in winter, and go with them to their country seat in the summer.  The change from the free life he had enjoyed with his friends who idolized him and his beautiful music, to the etiquette of aristocratic life, was great.  But there were many comforts amid his new surroundings; the family was musical, the duties were not heavy, and so Schubert was not unhappy.