Instrumental Music - Schumann Piano Trio In G Minor, Movement 1 Flashcards
When was the piano trio composed?
1846
Who composed the Piano trio in G minor?
Clara Schumann
Who was Schumann?
Very accomplished pianist who also composed music, however was largely taken up with role of being a mother so didn’t have a large compositional output. Influenced largely by friendship with Brahms.
What instrumentation was the trio written for?
Piano
Violin
Cello
What was the significance of the Piano trio at this time?
Was a classic chamber combination, from the classical period, and was still a very common and important compositional type for the time.
What was the significance of Schumann’s piano trio?
Schumanns piece is an example of progression of form at the time to a truly romantic style.
Also significant in fact it was written for amateurs aswell as professionals as more people began to own pianos.
What is the overall structure of the Piano trio?
Follows full 4 movement form of the genre: Allegro moderato Scherzo and trio Andante Allegretto
How is the first movement of the Piano trio structured?
Structured in sonata form:
Exposition (repeated)
Development
Recapitulation
How is tonality dictated in the piano trio?
Dictated by sonata form structure, as was common due to the classical principles.
What is the key tonality of the trio’s exposition?
1st subject = G minor (tonic)
2nd subject = Bb major (relative maj)
What is the key tonality of the trio’s development?
Various modulations throughout:
Eb major / F min / G min / C min / F min
What is the key tonality of the trio’s recapitulation?
1st subject = G minor (tonic)
2nd subject = G major (tonic maj)
What is the key tonality of the trio’s coda?
Returns to G minor (tonic)
How does Schumann show experimentation with tonality?
Explores some brief passing modulations:
D major in second subject
B major in second subject (in recapitulation)
Also sometimes includes abrupt returns to home key!
How does Schumann fit with tonality conventions in her piano trio?
Modulations are conventionally prepared with perfect cadences.
Uses tonic and dominant pedals to strengthen sense of tonality.
How were the parts written for the piano trio and why?
Parts are difficult but are not overly virtuosic - Schumann intended them for performance by amateurs aswell as professionals
What is significant about the 3 instrumental parts of the piano trio?
All 3 instruments have fairly equal roles in the trio. This was unusual as usually piano was dominant.
What is the role of the piano in the trio?
Provides both melodic and accompaniment textures
What is the role of the violin in the trio?
Mostly provides melody (however accompanies at some times)
What is the role of the cello in the trio?
Support bass harmony / fills the midrange harmony / provides melodic line
How would you describe the overall harmony of the piano trio?
Harmony is diatonic and tonal with functional progressions.
How did Schumann display a sense of convention in her piano trio?
Schumann includes frequent cadence points.
Also includes lots of traditional harmonic progressions: ie. perfect cadences and Ic - V - I cadences
Also uses progressions - ie. uses parallel triadic movement to follow descending Bassline / progression follows circle of 5ths
How does Schumann show experimentation in her use of harmony in her piano trio?
Schumann uses more complex chords with chromatic harmony.
For example:
Diminished 7th chords instead of V7
Augmented 6ths yo approach V or Ic
Dissonant extended chords (including elements of dominant minor 9th)
Suspensions
What is the overall texture of the piano trio?
Texture changes frequently throughout: Homophonic textures Polyphonic textures Pedal textures Block chord textures Accompaniment textures (ie. rocking quavers / piano off or on beat chords / arpeggio textures)
