Schubert‘s Metamorphoses

This open access book presents an innovative method of musical analysis based on C. G. Jung‘s theory of archetypes to examine the creative process of Franz Schubert. Departing from Jung‘s thesis that creative people have special access to psychic archetypal structures that impact artistic language and the creation of artistic works, this interdisciplinary study paves the way for a more differentiated understanding of music, allowing for a deeper exploration of the “soul” of a composition. Schubert’s spontaneous working methods and specific compositional techniques reveal a symbolic archetypal language, which becomes the focus of this research project, covering aesthetic, political, cultural and depth-psychological questions. Avoiding any pathologising interpretations, the findings reveal the connection between musical language, archetypal structures, and the composer’s biographical development, contributing significantly to current debates in Schubert research while also shedding new light on his work and creative process.