''Fantasiestücke'' for clarinet and piano,
Op. 73, were written in 1849 by
Robert Schumann
Robert Schumann (; ; 8 June 181029 July 1856) was a German composer, pianist, and music critic of the early Romantic music, Romantic era. He composed in all the main musical genres of the time, writing for solo piano, voice and piano, chamber ...
.
Though they were originally intended for clarinet and piano, Schumann indicated that the clarinet part could be also performed on violin or cello.
History
Robert Schumann wrote the pieces over just two days in February 1849, and originally entitled them "Soirée Pieces" before settling on the title ''Fantasiestücke'' ("fantasy pieces").
The title is one Schumann was fond of, since he used it in several works. This poetic title promotes the fundamental
Romantic notion that creative expression is the product of the artist's unrestricted imagination. In addition, the connotations of "
fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction that involves supernatural or Magic (supernatural), magical elements, often including Fictional universe, imaginary places and Legendary creature, creatures.
The genre's roots lie in oral traditions, ...
" justify the sudden mood changes.
Description
The three individual pieces are:
The first piece is in
A minor
A minor is a minor scale based on A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. Its key signature has no flats or sharps. Its relative major is C major and its parallel major is A major.
The A natural minor scale is:
Changes needed for the melodic ...
and begins dreamily with hints of melancholy, but concludes with a resolution and hope in
A major
A major is a major scale based on A, with the pitches A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. Its key signature has three sharps. Its relative minor is F-sharp minor and its parallel minor is A minor.
The A major scale is:
Changes needed for the ...
, looking forward to the next movement.
The second piece is in A major and is playful, upbeat, energetic and positive, with a central section modulating to
F major
F major is a major scale based on F, with the pitches F, G, A, B, C, D, and E. Its key signature has one flat.Music Theory'. (1950). United States: Standards and Curriculum Division, Training, Bureau of Naval Personnel. 28. Its relati ...
with
chromatic
Diatonic and chromatic are terms in music theory that are used to characterize scales. The terms are also applied to musical instruments, intervals, chords, notes, musical styles, and kinds of harmony. They are very often used as a pair, es ...
triplets in dialogue with the piano.
The final piece is again in A major. The pace suddenly drives into a frenzy of passion and fiery energy, bordering on the irrational, and at times quoting motifs from both of the previous two pieces. The movement pushes the players to their limits as Schumann labels each of the last two sections (of three) of the coda "schneller" (faster). The movement ends exuberantly with a triumphant close.
See also
*
Fantasiestücke, Op. 12
*
Three Fantasiestücke, Op. 111
References
External links
*
{{Authority control
Chamber music by Robert Schumann
Compositions for clarinet and piano
1849 compositions