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Home > Schumann, Clara > 3 Romanzen

Schumann, Clara : 3 Romanzen Op.21

Work Overview

Music ID : 3417
Composition Year:1853 
Publication Year:1855
First Publisher:Breitkopf und Härtel
Instrumentation:Piano Solo 
Genre:romance
Total Playing Time:11 min 00 sec
Copyright:Public Domain

Commentary (1)

Author : PTNA Piano Encyclopedia Editorial Department

Last Updated: January 1, 2010
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Note: This article is automatically translated from the original Japanese text. The author of the original work did not supervise this translation.

In 1853, Clara composed four Romances. She sent the first of these, the Romance in A minor, to Robert as a birthday present. Later, she compiled and published the first three pieces as "Three Romances", dedicating them to Brahms. These were her last numbered works for solo piano.

Although there are no common stylistic features running through the three pieces, they can be regarded as a kind of cycle due to the gradual increase in tempo: Andante, Allegretto, and Agitato.

No. 1 in A minor

The melody, which begins with the right hand playing in thirds, is beautiful and characteristically melancholic, typical of Clara. From this static section, the music moves to a dynamic middle section in F major. The rhythmic texture feels somewhat unstable, with the right hand's triplets combined with the left hand's quintuplets, among other elements. The triplets heard here reappear in the coda.

No. 2 in F major

This shortest of the three Romances, marked to be played "very softly" (sehr zart), features sixteenth notes and sixteenth rests as a consistent basic motif. The somewhat scherzo-like rhythm and colorful harmonies are the charm of this piece.

No. 3 in G minor

The restless sixteenth notes create an effect akin to a perpetuum mobile. Not only the right-hand melody but also the left-hand harmonic support wanders chromatically. This restlessness carries over into the slower middle section. Here, in addition to the chromatic progressions, suspensions are also effectively used, contributing to the overall unity of the work.

Movements (3)

Andante Op.21-1

Key: a-moll  Total Performance Time: 5 min 00 sec 

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Explanation 0

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Allegretto Op.21-2

Key: F-Dur  Total Performance Time: 1 min 30 sec 

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Agitato Op.21-3

Key: g-moll  Total Performance Time: 4 min 30 sec 

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Reference Videos & Audition Selections(1items)

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