Chopin and Schumann Rhythm and Phrasing Thomas Mastroianni
Jan 18, 2018
Chopin and SchumannRhythm and Phrasing
Thomas Mastroianni
Frederick Chopin (1810-1849)
• 1810 Born near Warsaw• 1830 Vienna then Paris• Kalkbrenner• Composer and piano
teacher, few public performances
Robert Schumann (1810 –1856)
• Music and LiteratureAugust – publisher & novelistJean Paul “Music is the moonlight in the gloomy night of life” ETA Hoffmann
• Friedrick Wieck• 1830 – Paganini (hand injury)• 1844 Counterpoint
SchumannAbegg
Variations
Accent placement
reveals phrasing
Papillons # 4
Phrase arch reveals
phrase rhythm
sf
3 4 1 2
Papillons # 7
Weak to Strong
Measures
Sonata # 2 Opening bars determine phrasing
Thematic Placement Reveals Bar Structure (Supplies a Focal Point)
Accents and cadential chords give balast to phrase
Phrase rhythm based on flow of 8th notes, harmonic arrival and
crescendos into 3 and 1
Harmonic closure, cadenzas and crescendos place phrase weight at
the end of phrases.
Rest to begin, harmonic tension to end = forward motion Chopin…. Nocturne op 27/2
2 3
4 1
Accents and unexpected harmony create weight
Chopin Nocturne, Opus 15 #2
Density of texture, Crescendos
Harmonic sequence (to IV, to I) Tension and repose in melody