Synthese als Modus der Prozessualität bei Schubert: Sein spezifisches Wiederholungsprinzip im langsamen Satz

In contrast to Beethoven’s music, Schubert’s music has been described through the concept of “a-finality” (Fischer 1983), employing the same elements repeatedly. In this sense, Schubert’s music seems incompatible with the kind of “processual” thinking which is typical for Beethoven’s music. This paper addresses such incompatibility through a comparison of the slow movements of Schubert’s piano sonata D 840 with those of Beethoven’s piano sonata No. 8 (op. 13) which is one of the possible precursors for D 840. The second movement of D 840 features an ABABA structure in which the themes of the first part A and the first part B become integrated into the second part A. This kind of integration differs fundamentally from the design of Beethoven’s op. 13, insofar as the two themes are combined while they also maintain their initial form. This mode of combination suggests Schubert’s own type of synthetic or “processual” thinking.