Schubert Biography in Song?
Schubert Biography in Song?

Observations of a Schubert Liederabschrift from 1835

Summary/Abstract: Walther Dürr and Ignaz Weinmann highlight the significance of Abschriften for Schubert scholarship where such manuscripts are not merely copied from printed sources. Meanwhile, Walburga Litschauer acknowledges their often limited value as source material, but stresses that such ‘[a]lbums and collections of pieces…show the personal taste of individual writers; their choice of compositions documents the cultivation of musical repertoire in the 19th century.’ This paper sets out to demonstrate that a Liederabschrift assembled in 1835 masks a more significant intention than seems apparent from its unassuming outer appearance. The deliberate choice and arrangement of the songs in the album suggest attributions to a compiler who was either personally acquainted with Schubert or someone close to the composer. Speculations that this song collection is a Schubert biography presented as a Liederspiel are also tested.

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