Schuman

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Robert Schumann- 1810-1856

German Composer and music critic

When writing, Schumann sometimes used the device of dialogue between imaginary characters representing different viewpoints

Character Pieces

This was the most important genre in Schumanns Piano music

He wrote three character pieces

Carnival

Contains 21 pieces

Each named after friends and colleagues of Schumann

The musical cipher A-S-C-H appears prominently

Binary Form

The eight pieces of Frantasiestucke alternate between the styles of characters Florestan and Eusebius

Eusebius is an idealistic, dreamy character

Florestan is a fiery man of action

Short, lyrical and often descriptive with expressive programatic titles. Their focus was on conveying emotion, expressing ideas or communicating a programme

Eusebius is depicted through bold chromaticism, tempo changes, sforzando notes and wide leaps to the upper register of the piano

Humoreske

A large scale independent piece

Generally in Bb Major

5 main sections, split into 11 pieces varying moods

Long sectional work with much variety

Some sections repeated which reflects the improvisational origin of the work and its manifestation of schumanns emotions

Op.20 contains elements of rondo form

Its many miniatures can also be understood in four or five larger scale movements

Humoreske is centre around the keys of G minor and Bb major

It is linked thematically by recurring melodies

Papillion- (Butterfly)

Set of character pieces written for piano

Made up of 12 pieces

May be regarded as a study of carnival

based in D major with different sections in different keys

12 short dance like pieces

Simple, sectional forms

Last section uses 26 bar pedal point on low D

combines fragment with waltz melody from opening

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