Sonata Lecture: Schubert's "Der Lindenbaum"

Introduction

• Discussion of the fifth song in Schubert's cycle "Die Winterreise" (The Winter Journey): "Der Lindenbaum" (The Linden Tree).
• The Linden tree in German art symbolizes:
  • Rendezvous for lovers.
  • Positive representation of nature.
• Focus of analysis:
  • Duality of past and present in the text.
  • Major and minor modes in the music.
  • Blend of classical and folk idioms.

Musical Analysis

Piano Introduction

• Represents wind through branches and leaves.
• Functions as an "instrumental script" conveying the wanderer's memories, as described by Susan Youens.
• Transports the wanderer from present to past.
• Style difference:
  • Piano: complex, rhythmically active, learned style.
  • Vocal line: simplistic, often doubled in the piano.

Song Structure

• Complex vs Simple Style
  • Piano vs Vocal line:
    • Piano: complex, learned style.
    • Vocal: simple, narrow range, popular with students.
• Present vs Past
  • The wanderer's current journey interjects into the daydream.
  • Icy wind represented in minor key sections.

Temptation and Rejection

• Memories become a temptation, representing death.
• Tree promises rest (death), but the wanderer rejects the call.
• Musical depiction of struggle:
  • Piano: lead style.
  • Vocal line: variation of original melody.
• Harmonic Analysis:
  • Switch between dominant (B major) and flattened sixth (C major) chords.
  • Flatten six hints at deceptive cadences and struggle against death.

Ending

• Stanza ends with wanderer's rejection: "Ich wendete mich nicht" (I did not turn back).
• Implied passage of time.
• Combination of folk and lead idioms:
  • Vocal retains shape of the first verse.
  • Accompaniment is more contrapuntal, traditionally active.
• Final repetition of introductory material:
  • Represents wanderer's memories.
  • Weakened cadence: dominant to tonic soft resolution.

Conclusion

• The song ends with a subtle indication of continued struggle against death.
• Further references to death will reappear in later songs in the cycle, weakening the wanderer's resistance.

Additional Notes

• Encouragement to support the channel via Patreon for further analysis.
• Next song in the cycle: "Wasserflut" (Flood).

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These notes summarize the key themes and musical structure of Schubert's "Der Lindenbaum," highlighting its dualistic nature and complex emotional narrative.