Robert Snarrenberg

Robert Snarrenberg

Associate Professor of Theory and Composition
(On leave Spring '24)
PhD, University of Michigan
MM, University of Cincinnati
BM, Covenant College
research interests:
  • Schenker
  • Brahms
  • computer-aided music analysis

contact info:

office hours:

  • By appointment

mailing address:

  • Washington University
    CB 1032
    One Brookings Drive
    St. Louis, MO 63130-4899

​Professor Snarrenberg's research has focused on close reading of the writings of Heinrich Schenker, in particular his uses of figurative language in analytical writing, his philosophy of music analysis, and problems of translation.

Robert Snarrenberg earned a B.Mus. from Covenant College (1979), a Masters of Music from the University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music (1985), and a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan (1991). He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses on species counterpoint, analysis of tonal music, German art song, and contemporary music theory. He served as chair of the Department of Music in 2000-2005. 

Professor Snarrenberg's research has focused on close reading of the writings of Heinrich Schenker, in particular his uses of figurative language in analytical writing, his philosophy of music analysis, and problems of translation. Prof. Snarrenberg is the author of the award-winning book, Schenker's Interpretive Practice (Cambridge University Press, 1997), work on which was supported by a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Humanities. He has also published articles that explore relationships between language and music in the solo songs of Johannes Brahms. His current projects focus on computer-aided music analysis, using Python and music21. 

Publications

“Brahms’s Non-Strophic Settings of Stanzaic Poetry: Three Case Studies.” Proceedings of the 9th European Music Analysis Conference, ed. Pierre Couprie, Alexandre Freund-Lehmann, Xavier Hascher, and Nathalie Hérold (Strasbourg, 2018). Forthcoming.

2021. “WesterParse: A Transition-based Dependency Parser for Tonal Species Counterpoint.” In Proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Computer Supported Education — Volume 1: CSME, 669–79. INSTICC, SciTePress.

2017        “Linear and Linguistic Syntax in Brahms’s O kühler Wald, Op. 72 No. 3.” Music Analysis 36 (3) (2017): 372–83.

2017        “Brahms’s Non-strophic Settings of Stanzaic Poetry.” Music & Letters 98 (2) (2017): 204–31.

2014        “On the Prosody of German Lyric Song.” Journal of Music Theory 58 (2): 103–54

2012        "Brahms’s Six Songs, Op. 3." Music Analysis (31) (1): 2–36

2004-5 Translations of 10 essays in Heinrich Schenker, Der Tonwille. Vol. 1. Ed. William Drabkin. Trans. Ian Bent, William Drabkin, Joseph Dubiel, Joseph Lubben, and Robert Snarrenberg. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

2001        "Schenker, Heinrich." The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, 2d ed.

1997        Schenker's Interpretive Practice. Cambridge Studies in Music Theory and Analysis, no. 11, ed. Ian Bent. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

1996        "The Art of Translating Schenker: A Commentary on The Masterwork in Music, vol. 1." Music Analysis 15 (2-3): 301-42.

1994        "Competing Myths: The American Abandonment of Schenker's Organicism." In Theory, Analysis and Meaning in Music, ed. Anthony Pople (Cambridge University Press), 30-56.

1992        "Schenker's Senses of Concealment." Theoria 6:97-133.

1992        "Zen and the Way of  Soundscroll." Perspectives of New Music 30 (1): 222-37.

1987        "The Play of Différance: Brahms's Intermezzo, Op. 118, No. 2." In Theory Only 10 (3): 1-25.

1986        "Hearings of Webern's 'Bewegt.'" Perspectives of New Music 24 (2): 386-404.

Awards

Young Scholar Award, Society for Music Theory, 1998

Fellowship for University Teachers, National Endowment for the Humanities, 1995

Jacob K. Javits Fellowship, U.S. Department of Education, 1987-89

Courses

Music Theory I-IV

Analysis I-II

Introduction to Schenker

Seminars in Schenkerian analysis, contemporary music theory, variations, thoroughbass, German art song, and Brahms's chamber music.

Translations

2004        Heinrich Schenker, Der Tonwille. Vol. 1. Ed. William Drabkin. Trans. Ian Bent, William Drabkin, Joseph Dubiel, Joseph Lubben, and Robert Snarrenberg. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

          “Die Urlinie: Eine Vorbemerkung” (1:22–26)

          “Franz Schubert: ‘Ihr Bild’” (1:46–49)

          “Gesetze der Tonkunst” (2:3)

          “Geschichte der Tonkunst” (2:3–4)

          “Noch ein Wort zur Urlinie” (2:4–6)

          “Haydn: Sonate Es-Dur” (3:3–21)

          “Die Kunst zu hören” (3:22–25)

2005        Heinrich Schenker, Der Tonwille. Vol. 2. Ed. William Drabkin. Trans. Ian Bent, William Drabkin, Joseph Dubiel, Joseph Lubben, and Robert Snarrenberg. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

          “Der wahre Vortrag” (6:36–40)

          “Beethoven: Sonate opus 57” (7:3–33)

          “Wirkung und Effekt” (8–9:47–48)