Schubert's Unfinished Symphony
A harmonic cadence is a term for two chords that conclude a section, phrase or piece of music. It lends finality or gives new direction to the music. Based on the cadence, the listener decides if that particular piece has concluded. Sometimes, at a concert, the performer pauses for a moment and the audience starts the applause because they heard a perfect cadence and assumed the conclusion of the music.
Most music ends well. Or has a definitive ending. Music that does not end in an appropriate cadence can sound incomplete and without resolution. It disturbs the human mind.
Schubert's unfinished symphony is a classic example of music with unexpected dynamics and a seemingly unfinished ending. It starts in doom and gloom and suddenly rises to a magnificent high. The tempo and mood of the music changes randomly, demonstrating the power of classical music on human emotions. There is some debate about the ending - was it meant to be unfinished or did Schubert intend to come back to the piece at a later date and complete it? It causes a feeling of uneasiness in the listener. Inconclusive art forms, such as Schubert's symphony or paintings that are not finished, can leave people unsettled.
Relationships that have an irresolute ending have a similar effect. The word used most commonly to indicate a harmonic cadence in relationships is 'closure.' In High Fidelity, John Cusack, for most of the movie, seeks closure from his past relationships. It helps him to finally commit to the relationship he walks away from at the beginning. I'm not a big advocate for leaving things unfinished, but timing plays a key role in relationships. There's a time and a place...
What is it about us that searches for resolution? I wonder if it's possible to let loose ends be loose ends, even if they disturb you for a while. The final completion of all things, when that happens is the only resolution worth chasing. Except, it cannot be chased.
So maybe we let some pieces of music or relationships end in non-resolution. Flip the page and start afresh. As long as there's music to be written, why bother going back to some 19th century piece of music (however incredible), to debate on whether it was meant to be finished or unfinished?
Because relationships are the essence of living. Art, on the other hand can be interpreted any way you like.