Schumann and Romanticism
Before research:
Did not know much about the different themes/melodies that went through the piece
Didn’t analyze the dynamics and how it affected the music in general
How the composer felt about these pieces
What each piece represented… * I. Zart und mit Ausdruck (Tender and with expression) * II. Lebhaft, leicht (Lively, light) * III. Rasch und mit Feuer (Quick and with fire) * The first piece is in A minor, and begins dreamily with hints of melancholy, but concludes with a resolution and hope in A major, looking forward to the next movement. * The second piece is in A major, and is playful, upbeat, energetic and positive, with a central section modulating to F major with chromatic triplets in dialogue with the piano. * The final piece is again in A major. The pace suddenly drives into a frenzy of passion and fiery energy, bordering on the irrational. The movement pushes the players to their limits as Schumann writes "schneller und schneller" (faster and faster). The movement ends exuberantly with a triumphant close.
* In addition, the connotations of "fantasy" justify the sudden mood changes, which are a signature of so much of Schumann's music, and which reflect his emotions and mood swings. The pieces are like songs without words, or an instrumental song cycle.
Phantasiestücke, Op. 73 * The first of the pieces, a song without words marked "Zart und mit Ausdruck" (Delicately and with expression), maintains a constant triplet-rhythm accompaniment in the piano, which supports a mostly independent clarinet line. The central section is distinguished by a move away from A minor and falling arpeggio figures in the clarinet. The return to the first section is nearly literal until the final harmonic shift to A major
* Piano and clarinet share the melody in the blithe second piece, an intermezzo marked "Lebhaft, leicht" (Lively, light). The busy central section, itself cast in two parts, is marked by a sudden change to F
Did not know much about the different themes/melodies that went through the piece
Didn’t analyze the dynamics and how it affected the music in general
How the composer felt about these pieces
What each piece represented… * I. Zart und mit Ausdruck (Tender and with expression) * II. Lebhaft, leicht (Lively, light) * III. Rasch und mit Feuer (Quick and with fire) * The first piece is in A minor, and begins dreamily with hints of melancholy, but concludes with a resolution and hope in A major, looking forward to the next movement. * The second piece is in A major, and is playful, upbeat, energetic and positive, with a central section modulating to F major with chromatic triplets in dialogue with the piano. * The final piece is again in A major. The pace suddenly drives into a frenzy of passion and fiery energy, bordering on the irrational. The movement pushes the players to their limits as Schumann writes "schneller und schneller" (faster and faster). The movement ends exuberantly with a triumphant close.
* In addition, the connotations of "fantasy" justify the sudden mood changes, which are a signature of so much of Schumann's music, and which reflect his emotions and mood swings. The pieces are like songs without words, or an instrumental song cycle.
Phantasiestücke, Op. 73 * The first of the pieces, a song without words marked "Zart und mit Ausdruck" (Delicately and with expression), maintains a constant triplet-rhythm accompaniment in the piano, which supports a mostly independent clarinet line. The central section is distinguished by a move away from A minor and falling arpeggio figures in the clarinet. The return to the first section is nearly literal until the final harmonic shift to A major
* Piano and clarinet share the melody in the blithe second piece, an intermezzo marked "Lebhaft, leicht" (Lively, light). The busy central section, itself cast in two parts, is marked by a sudden change to F