Instrumental Music - Schumann Piano Trio In G Minor, Movement 1

Question 1

When was the piano trio composed?

Answer 1

1846

Question 2

Who composed the Piano trio in G minor?

Answer 2

Clara Schumann

Question 3

Who was Schumann?

Answer 3

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.

Question 4

What instrumentation was the trio written for?

Answer 4

Piano
Violin
Cello

Question 5

What was the significance of the Piano trio at this time?

Answer 5

Was a classic chamber combination, from the classical period, and was still a very common and important compositional type for the time.

Question 6

What was the significance of Schumann’s piano trio?

Answer 6

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.

Question 7

What is the overall structure of the Piano trio?

Answer 7

Follows full 4 movement form of the genre:
Allegro moderato
Scherzo and trio
Andante
Allegretto

Question 8

How is the first movement of the Piano trio structured?

Answer 8

Structured in sonata form:
Exposition (repeated)
Development
Recapitulation

Question 9

How is tonality dictated in the piano trio?

Answer 9

Dictated by sonata form structure, as was common due to the classical principles.

Question 10

What is the key tonality of the trio’s exposition?

Answer 10

1st subject = G minor (tonic)

2nd subject = Bb major (relative maj)

Question 11

What is the key tonality of the trio’s development?

Answer 11

Various modulations throughout:

Eb major / F min / G min / C min / F min

Question 12

What is the key tonality of the trio’s recapitulation?

Answer 12

1st subject = G minor (tonic)

2nd subject = G major (tonic maj)

Question 13

What is the key tonality of the trio’s coda?

Answer 13

Returns to G minor (tonic)

Question 14

How does Schumann show experimentation with tonality?

Answer 14

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!

Question 15

How does Schumann fit with tonality conventions in her piano trio?

Answer 15

Modulations are conventionally prepared with perfect cadences.
Uses tonic and dominant pedals to strengthen sense of tonality.

Question 16

How were the parts written for the piano trio and why?

Answer 16

Parts are difficult but are not overly virtuosic - Schumann intended them for performance by amateurs aswell as professionals

Question 17

What is significant about the 3 instrumental parts of the piano trio?

Answer 17

All 3 instruments have fairly equal roles in the trio. This was unusual as usually piano was dominant.

Question 18

What is the role of the piano in the trio?

Answer 18

Provides both melodic and accompaniment textures

Question 19

What is the role of the violin in the trio?

Answer 19

Mostly provides melody (however accompanies at some times)

Question 20

What is the role of the cello in the trio?

Answer 20

Support bass harmony / fills the midrange harmony / provides melodic line

Question 21

How would you describe the overall harmony of the piano trio?

Answer 21

Harmony is diatonic and tonal with functional progressions.

Question 22

How did Schumann display a sense of convention in her piano trio?

Answer 22

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

Question 23

How does Schumann show experimentation in her use of harmony in her piano trio?

Answer 23

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

Question 24

What is the overall texture of the piano trio?

Answer 24

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)

Question 25

What is the overall use of melody in the piano trio?

Answer 25

Uses periodic phrasing
Balanced upward and downward leaps
Descending semitone melodies feel dark
Sequences mean that melodies can be extended and developed. (Predictable but sound flowing)

Question 26

How does Schumann use dynamics in her piano trio?

Answer 26

Range of dynamics which adds emotional intensity to the movement.
Sf and fp underlines harmonically important chords
Only 1 mf marking which is unusual for romantic piece

Question 27

What is the overall use of metre in the piano trio?

Answer 27

Written in 4/4

Clear sense of pulse throughout

Question 28

What is the overall use of tempo in the piano trio?

Answer 28

Allegro moderato throughout with one rit.

Accelerando to end

Question 29

What is the overall use of rhythm in the piano trio?

Answer 29

Fast and slow harmonic rhythms within 4/4 metre
Themes have distinctive rhythms (eg. 1c with is syncopated and has dotted rhythms)
Anacrusis opens 1c and 1d
Frequent quaver passages and syncopation
Lots of rhythmic variety in melodies

Question 30

What sonority is created by strings and how in the piano trio?

Answer 30

Mostly arco with some pizz

Double stopping is used to add intensity

Question 31

Name the three pieces of wider listening for this piece and their composers:

Answer 31

> Schubert Piano Trio in Bb major mvt 1
Beethoven septet in Eb
Brahms Piano Quintet in F minor mvt 3