Schubert’s manuscripts and its interpretations

To share music with others can prove to be a challenge. Throughout time, humans have managed in different ways. First, it was transmitted orally. The downside of it is that the receiver must be physically present in order to capture the information. With the apparition of musical notation around 1400 BC, the previous requirement is no longer mandatory. Nevertheless, how precise can written down instructions be? Many eras later, in the time where Franz Schubert lived (1797-1828), one can find in Europe a general consensus on the musical notation system. However, there are limits in what one can write down. That’s why I would like to conduct a research on Schubert’s manuscript of the Piano Sonata in G major, D894. There are still quarrels to be had with the way one should interpret it. Schubert was a very prolific composer and did not always have the best handwriting. Therefore, it is often difficult and sometimes impossible to determine with exactitude his wish. I am hoping that with the analysis of the score I will gain a deeper understanding of Schubert’s thought process, thus granting me more tools for a more authentic performance of his work.

Faculty Supervisor:

Jimmy Brière

Student:

Partner:

University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Entertainment and Media; Education; Other

University:

Université de Montréal

Program: