Pause - Die Schöne Müllerin D.795 - Score, Harmonic Analysis, and Translation

A recording of Schubert's song Pause, sung by Randall Scarlata
Translations by Dan Wolfe
#schubert #lieder #classicalmusic #artsong
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[@TheAmazingMissJ]

Question: As the piece moves from A-flat Major back to B-flat, there's a lot of chromaticism happening. I'm struggling to decide if that modulation can be analyzed.

[@sonatahewrote]

I would say the modulation into, and out of, A flat major is not really prepared in any way. In my opinion intentionally; it has kind of an otherworldly character to it. but the passage around the fermata, (on Liebespein, that is) I think can be analyzed in B flat, but I see I didnt label it in the score. On lieb-es I would probably call that a secondary dominant of the neapolitan in B flat major (which is a C flat major chord) and the C natural a non-chord tone. but instead of resolving to that predominant he gives us a french 6. this does all lead to a cadential 6/4 so its not exactly just chords without "function" but I would say their purpose is more to illustrate the text "Is that the echo of my love's sorrow" (probably a better translation than I wrote in the video) than to cleanly modulate back to B flat major. TLDR: I think it is possible to slap some roman numerals up there but I would say the effect of the section in A flat is that it is NOT prepared. thanks for your question, does this help at all?