This is a nice exercise in listening. What are the differences between the Juilliard and the Amadeus recording of this most famous chamber work of Schubert? There is a difference in years of release: the Amadeus came out in 1954, whereas the Juilliard version is from 1981. Although I’m not too sure about the Spotify editions, I’m certain at least the latter is from 2016, with the quartet from New York in its most recent line up.
The fascination with death was relentless in the nineteenth century. Just as death itself was. Ever present and sometimes early in life. Schubert himself is a good example of that, on his deathbed in his 31st year. But maybe death was also seen as a relief, as blissful end of suffering. If you listen to many of the Mahler symphonies (I’ve written about almost all of them here), you’ll notice that he sees death as just a bridge to a new life. A beautiful and happy life, without all of the hurt and suffering in this.
During my studies I’ve heard once said that if you think the Middle Ages is the time of religion, more specifically of Catholicism, you have to look at the nineteenth century again. In no other time was the power of the Catholic Church so great as in that century. In no other time was The Faith so pervasive in people’s lives. These are the real Middle Ages.