Schumann Flashcards
What is a piano trio?
A piece of several movements for piano and two ohter instruments
What type of music is it?
Chamber music
What is chamber music?
Music for a chamber or room
Most likely for a patrons salon performance
What are the four movements?
Allegro moderato
Scherzo
Andante
Allegretto
Are the ranges normal for this musical era?
Yes but slightly larger
How does the violin play?
Almost entirely arco and one note at a time
How does the cello play?
Almost entirely pizz
How does Clara add intensity?
Occasional double stopping
Why is the piano part challenging?
unusually wide and outward stretches
Describe the pedalling
It is rarely indicated but there are occasional special blurred effects
How does Clara create blurring?
The pedal is held down to sustain one harmony against another
What other texture is heard in the development?
Contrapuntal interest
Where is the main melodic interest?
Generally alternates between the violin and right hand piano
Do the strings ever rest?
yes - simultaneously
What does the violin present?
a melody with piano accompaniment
How does the cello alter the pianos bass line?
It provides an ornamented or simplified version
How does the cello strengthen the melody?
Doubling the violin at an octave
How does the piano create textual contrast?
Broken chord accompaniment
Offbeat chords
FF chords with octaves
Left hand octaves
How does Clara use dynamics to add emotional intensity?
Plentiful crescendos and diminuendos
How does she underline harmonically intense chords?
With sf and fp
What is the structure of movement 1?
Sonata form
What three components make up a Sonata?
Exposition - exposes main subjects
Development - manipulation of ideas
Recapitulation - recaps exposition and coda
What is the tonic key?
Gm
How many subjects are there?
2, each with sub-sections
1a, 1b, 1c, 1d - 2a,2b
What other keys were suggested?
Ab and D major, Cm, Eb, Bb, Gm
What is the principle key of the development?
Cm
What is surprising about the tonality of the recapitulation?
Second subject is in the tonic major. Normally the recapitulation is all in the tonic
What type of phrasing does Schummann use?
Periodic phrasing
How is the climatic top G approached in phrase 2?
With a strong upward leap of an octave
What is balanced well?
ascending/descending movement and stepwise movement/leaps
What type of phrasing does Schumann use?
Periodic phrasing
What type of harmony is used?
Functional
How does Clara define the key?
Reliance on chords 1 and 4
How does Clara represent the Romantic harmony style?
Use of triads and 7th chords in root position
How does she vary the harmony?
Frequent chromatic chords
Striking dissonances
Prepared suspensions
Unprepared appoggiaturas
What adds to the dark atmosphere?
diminshed 7th chords
What indicates a dark/emotional scenario?
chromatic descent in diatonic descant
What is the tempo marking?
Allegro moderato
What highlights tonal surprise?
poco rit
What is the metre?
4/4 throughout
What note values are used?
Quaver movement
semiquavers follow dotted quavers
no triplets
Trio 2 context
Brahms
Late Romantic (more typical)
Chamber
Trio 2 melody
Regular phrases Repeated Mostly in strings and horn Fragments Dialogue Virtuosic Sequences
Trio 2 Tonality
Keys more adventurous
Eb major
Bbmajor, Db major (unrelated)
Trio 2 sonority
Violin Horn - melancholy Piano Low range Double stopping Violin range increases
Trio 2 structure
Free rondo
Fragmentary
Trio 2 texture
Homophonic
Imitation
Trio 2 harmony
More adventurous Chromatic - passionate Bb7, Bb7, Bb7c, Bb7, Ebmajor 2nd inv. Romantic Octaves Bb, Abm, Gb, Db, Gb - rich/romantic
Trio 2 tempo/metre/rhythm
Simple and repetitive
Triplets
Lots of changes of time sig.
cross-rhythms
Chopin raindrop prelude
1839 sostenuto with lots of rubato ternary sustain pedal Db major Enharmonic change to C sharp minor Chromatic notes Crescendos Inverted pedal perfect cadences
Comparisons
Brahms trio 2 Chopin raindrop prelude Mozart piano sonata in Bb Brahms piano quintet in Fm Beethoven piano trio No.7 Brahms piano trio No.5 in Cm Schumann, trio No.1
context
Clara 1819-1896
born in Leipzig
daughter of piano teacher Friedrich Weick
married Robert Scumann
Completed a 3 movement piano concerto at 15
‘queen of the piano’ - first to give solo recitals and perform from memory
