Second movement of Schubert’s ‘Unfinished’ Symphony

R‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‌‍‌‌ead the instruction below thoroughly and write a research paper. Discuss the second movement of Schubert’s ‘Unfinished’ Symphony, both its distinctive compositional features and how this movement reflects Schubert’s awareness of the slow movements of Beethoven’s symphonies composed prior to 1822 (i.e., all of them but the Ninth). Your essay should make specific reference to at least one of Beethoven’s slow symphonic movements (you might begin by considering the slow movements of Beethoven’s Symphonies #3, 4, and 5). Questions/issues to consider: 1) In what ways does Schubert follow compositional paths similar to those found in Beethoven’s slow movements? Where does he seem to take a different approach? 2) How does Schubert treat the material first presented in bars 1 and 2? As thematic/harmonic material? As structural marker? Some combination of these, or something altogether different? 3) What is distinctive about the relations among the main key areas of the seco‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‌‍‌‌nd movement? Is there anything comparable in Beethoven’s symphonies? 4) Is there anything in the second movement comparable to the highly stratified textures found at places in the first movement? If so, where are these sections, and what are the materials used in the various rhythmic/melodic layers? You may submit marked up scores to support your observations, but these should illustrate, not replace, a discussion of the movement in prose. I am mainly interested in your own musical observations on these issues, however if you draw on or cite work by other writers this must be indicated through footnotes. To receive credit for this essay: a) submit it as a PDF (no Google Docs, please) to my NEC email address no later than Thursday, March 10, 4pm; b) include your name both in the filename and on the essay itself. Next week in class we will be looking at Schubert’s Quartet in D minor, D810 (‘Death and the Maiden’), and his Introduction and Variations on ‘Trockne Blumen’, for fl‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‍‍‍‌‍‌‌ute and piano, D802

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