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Wednesday, February 02, 2005

Schumann: Carnaval, Op. 9, No. 4, "Valse noble"

Schumann composed the Valse noble in ternary form, with an opening eight measures that are repeated at the end. The piece begins in Bb major with an IAC in measure 8. Typical of Schumann, his texture is octaves in the right hand with an oom-pah-pah base line. Dynamics are set at forte with crescendos with a sforzando in measure 4 being the focal point of the line.

Beginning in measure 9, Schumann takes us to D major (the chromatic mediant) and changes our texture an arpeggiated base line with basically a one-note melody in the right hand. Dynamics are taken to a piano marking with small accents on the downbeat of each measure. The B section ends with a PAC at measure 24.

Measures 25-32 seem to be an a' section, being in Bb again and having the same base function as the A section. The texture is still basically the same as the B section however, but the dynamics begin to crescendo again. The a' section is ended by an IAC. In measure 33 we're in the full-fledged repeat of the A section, with our ff and octaves...don't forget the oom-pah-pahs. The piece ends with an IAC.

Nice work Schumann...even though you were a bit crazy.

1 comment:

Spoonaloompa said...

LAdams... Your knowledge never ceases to amaze me. I appreciated your reference to all of Schumann's works more than the elephant appreciates a good anti-poaching rally. Comparing your assignment with the typical style of the composer was a brilliant stroke we should all seek to emulate, as the parrot seeks to emulate it's owner's sweet voice.