Schenker, Cube and Schubert's 'Der Doppelgänger'

Abstract

Schubert's 'Der Doppelgänger' is among the composer's most-analysed works. Yet, in spite of numerous published Schenkerian readings, Schenker's own analytical sketches of the song remain largely neglected. His work on 'Der Doppelgänger' was prompted by a letter from Felix-Eberhard von Cube of 8 May 1932, which enclosed a voice-leading analysis. Although this analysis does not survive, the broad outline of Cube's reading can be reconstructed from the letter. Schenker's reply to Cube is not known to survive, but a diary entry of 17 July 1932 records work on the song and the sending of a 'solution' to his former pupil; sketches in the Oster Collection, also dating from 17 July 1932, further document the theorist's work on the song that day.

Schenker appears to settle on an Urlinie that descends from 3, in contrast to the primary tone of 5 that features not only in Cube's original analysis but also in many recently published ones. In choosing a 3-line, Schenker places great weight on the relationship between the song's Urlinie and its four-note ostinato motive, and the sketches illustrate how his concerns are similar to those of modern-day theorists working three-quarters of a century later.

More information

Identifiers

Catalogue record

Export record

Altmetrics