Stylistic phenomenon of Violin sonatas by Franz Schubert
Authors: Каrachevtseva Inna 
Published: November 2019

Background. In recent years musicologists revealed an increasing interest in the problem of historical typology of F. Schubert’s composer style. In fact, scholars question possibility to characterize it as romantic, in their turn suggesting another interpretations and characteristics. For instance, M. Brown avoids usage of the term “Romantic” referring to F. Schubert, insisting on him being a part of a Classical tradition. In order to substantiate his viewpoint, the scholar appeals to harmony of the composer, where novelties, according to M. Brown, are not in fact innovations but incredibly skilful incarnation of Classical ideas. More moderate opinion on the discussed problem is stated by Ch. Rosen (2003). While acknowledging “revolutionary” nature of F. Schubert’s harmony, the scholar simultaneously points out a “special status” of the composer in musical art, a status not allowing to apply neither Classical, nor Romantic standards to the works of master. Consequently, as Ch. Rosen says, F. Schubert ended up being “in-between” Classical tradition and Romantic innovations. In his earlier study (1997) abovementioned author uses term “Postclassicism” referring to F. Schubert and other artists of his generation. A collision “F. Schubert – L. van Beethoven” is regarded both by Е.Badura-Skoda (2004) and J. Daverio (2002). The latter one tries to solve it while regarding it through prism of R. Schumann’s observation on this problem. Thus, it is obvious that reception of F. Schubert’s style as typologically ambiguous has a long-lasting history dating back to Romantic era. This intrigue can be found in researches of XX century as well. For example, phenomenon of style of F. Schubert’s chamber works has become a topic of P. Wolfius’ rumination, who defined it as “intermediate” (1974). Mentioned above works of the last third of XX century and beginning of XXI century prove relevance of the problem of historical typology of F. Schubert’s composer style for modern musicology. This calls for its further development through analytical studying of musical material while using historically-typological method of research. In the given aspect, special attention should be drawn to early works by composer, including four Violin sonatas. Objectives. The goal of this paper is to comprehend stylistic phenomenon of these works as a result of mixture of Classical experience gained by F. Schubert and first signs of his oncoming individual view on the essence of music and sound. Methods. In order to achieve this goal, the author of current work uses a periodization of F. Schubert’s chamber legacy, created by H. Gleason and W. Becker (1988) as well as models of “biography scenario”, revealed by N. Savytska (2010). According to the former one, Violin sonatas, written in 1816–1817, don’t belong to the “mature” works; at the same time according to the latter ones, due to F. Schubert’s style evolution being smooth and gradual its starting and finishing points have no radical discrepancies, that would be caused by the change of orientation of composer’s creative method, and as a result, in the early works one can discern some key features of the mature ones. It is relevant, among others, for the sonata genre, where composers first achievements, incidentally, were made in its violin type, preceding highly individual accomplishments of piano sonatas. This situation in the given article is explained as a result of a composer becoming more and more mature as a musician through his life, undoubtedly influenced by special features of this process. Results and discussion. Given that F. Schubert’s Violin sonatas are named differently by performers, publishers and scholars (op. 137 consists of three Sonatas or Sonatinas, op. 162 is also known as “Duo”), it was necessary to conduct a research basing on various sources (Holl, 1973; Vetter, 1953; Deutsch, 1978), in order to ensure righteousness of definition of all the pieces regarded as “sonata”. On the foreground of observation on F. Schubert’s understanding of the cycle it was possible to reveal composer’s loyalty to rules of his time. Sonata ор. 137 № 1 is composed as a classical three-movement model; subsequent ones, including op. 162, embody four-movement model, and that can be a reason to draw parallels between F. Schubert and L. van Beethoven. Individual steps of the journey of author’s self-identification as a composer are traced. Sonata ор. 137 № 1 is marked by frequent employment of variative development in the principal theme of the first movement, that causes its turning into digressive episode; inclusion of contrasting episode in the middle sections of Andante in Sonatas ор. 137 № 2–3 (that is not prescribed by chosen musical form) foreshadows tonal device, favoured by F. Schubert in his mature works – preference to Subdominant sphere over Dominant in four-movement cycle with tonal and dramaturgical highlighting of pair “lyricism – game” in middle movements (slow ones and Minuets); binarity of tonal centres in expositions and even recapitulations of sonata form being substituted by ternarity, that causes a whole section to be a principal unit of structure etc. Sonata op. 162 acquires significance of climax in F. Schubert’s ascent to self-identity in sonata genre. Its expanded structure, including gigantic development of the Finale, Minuet being substituted by Scherzo, parts of performers being completely equal in every respect allow to regard this work as first “Grand Sonata” in F. Schubert’s legacy. Moreover – experience gained by composer while creating it will be applied in cyclic composition for piano in mature period of creativity. Conclusions. In Conclusions analytical observations are summarized and generalized as well as levels of artistic structure of Violin sonatas, incarnating specifics of F. Schubert’s understanding of music as a composer of his historical time, are revealed.