Harmony in Schubert

This book develops fresh ideas on harmony through analyzing the music of one of Western music's true innovators, Franz Schubert.

David Damschroder (Author)

9781107442580, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 21 August 2014

334 pages, 220 music examples
24.4 x 17 x 1.8 cm, 0.53 kg

Damschroder’s book, a well-researched and thoughtful study of chromatic harmony in the music of Schubert (but which could easily apply to other nineteenth-century composers), will certainly give readers much to think about....his book will open novel imaginative spaces for thinking about harmony and will challenge the reader to consider harmony in both its local and global context."
-Dutch Journal of Music Theory

One of Western music's great harmonists, Franz Schubert created a wondrous and treasured body of music that has retained its fascination to this day. His innovative harmonic practice has been a topic of lively discussion among analysts for generations. Harmony in Schubert presents a fresh approach, yielding insightful readings of a large and varied range of excerpts, as well as readings of fifteen complete movements spanning Schubert's chamber, choral, orchestral, piano, and vocal output. Damschroder reformulates the apparatus for Roman-numeral harmonic analysis, integrating his own speculations with various strands of historical analytical thought, including Schenkerian principles and historical perspectives. In addition, he juxtaposes his readings of complete movements by Schubert with discussions of how they have been interpreted by other Schubertian analysts. The book sets a new direction for the future of music analysis, proposing innovative improvements on existing methodologies.

Preface
Part I. Methodological Orientation: 1. Harmonic progression
2. Linear progression
3. Common prolongations and successions
4. Chords built on bII, on III, and from the parallel key
Part II. Masterpieces: 5. 'Ganymed' (D. 544)
6. Quintet in A Major ('Trout', D. 667), movement 1
7. Symphony in B Minor ('unfinished', D. 759), movement 1
8. Piano Sonata in A Minor (D. 784), movement 2
9. 'Die junge Nonne' (D. 828)
10. Four Impromptus (D. 899)
11. 'Auf dem Flusse' from Winterreise (D. 911, No. 7)
12. Piano Sonata in B flat Major (D. 960), movement 1
Epilogue
Bibliography.

Subject Areas: Modern history to 20th century: c 1700 to c 1900 [HBLL], European history [HBJD], Romantic music [c 1830 to c 1900 AVGC5], Music reviews & criticism [AVC], Theory of music & musicology [AVA]