MHST 530E Topics in the 19th Century: Schubert's Intrumental Music
An examination of a broad selection of Schubert’s instrumental works in various genres (symphony, string quartet and other chamber ensembles, piano music, both solo and four-hands). Where relevant we will also consider his Lieder that served as foundations for various instrumental pieces. We will trace the outlines of his biography (with readings from Christopher Gibbs’s recent biography) and his development as a composer. Topics to be addressed include: the effects of Schubert’s engagement with the music of Mozart and Beethoven; performance-oriented modes of analysis; the impact of his instrumental works on later 19th-century composers. Students will write two papers, one more analytical in orientation, the other more historical.