Schubert's Tonal Ambiguity - Analyzing his 14th String Quartet d. 810 - Death and the Maiden

This video is an analysis of the finale of Schubert's 14th String Quartet using Sonata Theory. Discussed in the video are topics such as tonal ambiguity, Tri-modular blocks, three-key expositions, and Type 1-4 Sonatas (Sonata Rondos w/out development sections).
If you haven't seen the other movement analyses of this quartet be sure to check them out here
• Death and the Maiden -...
Sources:
A Sonata Theory Handbook - James Hepokoski
Elements of Sonata Theory - James Hepokoski and Warren Darcy
Schubert’s Tree-Key Expositions - Dissertation by Dr. Aaron Grant
The Three-Key Trimodular Block and Its Classical Precedents: Sonata Expositions of Schubert and Brahms - Appearing in Intégral , 2009, Vol. 23 (2009), pp. 65-119 - Graham Hunt
When Structure and Design Collide: The Three-Key Exposition Revisited - Appearing in Music Theory Spectrum , Vol. 36, No. 2 (FALL 2014), pp. 247-269 - Graham Hunt
Art Young Woman on her Death Bed, 1621. Anonymous
Performance by the Berg Quartet
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#classicalmusic #musictheory #sonatatheory #sonataform #analysis #schubert

[@jacksonjanney1302]

Thank you for the video! Really enjoyed it!

[@sonatahewrote]

you're so welcome, I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@GlaceonStudios]

Great analysis, honesltly! I think I'll have to apply Sonata Theory to some of my other works. Other works you should analyze should probably be Schubert's Unfinished symphony, since both of its works are in sonata form and they could be pretty well analyzed I think.

[@GlaceonStudios]

*movements. Both of its movements.

[@sonatahewrote]

@GlaceonStudios I am certain I’ll get there, Schubert is a favorite

[@GlaceonStudios]

Also: now that I think about it, using Sonata Theory I could see this being a Type 4 sonata as well (sonata rondo); the C section (marked as TR in your analysis, m. 390) sounds pretty developmental to me, even if it takes more rhythmic motifs from the themes than it does tonal motifs. Starting a development in the subdominant minor does feel in line with Schubert a bit, considering how he also did so in the first movement of the 8th symphony.

[@sonatahewrote]

I discuss in the video why I consider this to be a type 4 sonata.

[@GlaceonStudios]

@@sonatahewrote True, I was thinking it was less of a hybrid with Type 1 to me, but your analysis was quite sound.

[@sonatahewrote]

Hmmm, the issue I see with that is if m 390 is the development, where is the recapitulation?

[@GlaceonStudios]

@@sonatahewrote Starting at m. 438, in an inverted recap (so an ABACBA rondo, where C is the development)--then the coda begins at 691 as marked in the score. Then again, transitions and modulating bridges becoming stormier and more developmental in the recapitulation of a type 1 sonata is somewhat common (e.g. Brahms Sym. 4.II mm. 74-87); however, the fact that the transition isn't the same as in the exposition makes it at least _feel_ more like a brief developmental C section, at least to my ears.

[@sonatahewrote]

I’m not necessarily opposed to the idea of an inverted (or reversed) recap, but the idea is directly discussed and refuted in sonata theory. Which again is not to say they aren’t possible, just that they’re slightly sacrilegious… 😂 Personally I think the TR is too short and too obviously leads to comparable potential MCs (as in the expo) to be considered a development, but I can see what you mean.