Schumann: Consolidated Album for the Young (1-18)

[iumonito]

I gave this the ultimate test: Sam (3.5 years old) approved enthusiastically over breakfast and asked for it as his bedtime music.  I shall do the rest at some point and probably practice this some more.  I must say, after listening to it a little bit, and contrary to what I had been reading, this seems to be a very cohesive set of pieces.

I have not gotten to the nitty-gritty, but I suspect there are literary and probably motivic threads braiding the whole thing together.

Here are the 18 post in link format for ease of access:

1 Melodie http://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,25715.0.html
2 Soldier's March http://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,25716.0.html
3 Humming Song http://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,25717.0.html
4 A Hymn http://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,25718.0.html
5 Little Piece http://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,25719.0.html
6 The poor orphan http://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,25720.0.html
7 Hunting Song http://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,25721.0.html
8 The Wild Horseman http://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,25722.0.html
9 Folk Song http://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,25723.0.html
10 The Happy Farmer http://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,25724.0.html
11 Sicilienne http://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,25725.0.html
12 Knight Rupert http://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,25729.0.html
13 May, Sweet May http://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,25730.0.html
14 Little Etude http://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,25731.0.html
15 Spring Song http://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,25734.0.html
16 First Loss http://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,25735.0.html
17 Little Morning Explorer http://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=25736.msg291687#msg291687
18 Song of the harvesters http://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,25737.0.html

I hope you enjoy this.  Comments are welcome (Susan, thanks for yours, keep them coming.  I must say you never tell me something I would have thought of myself, so it is always nice to hear from you, even when I think you are totally off!)

[pianistimo]

you're welcome, iumonito.  i think you are 'getting' schumann.  playing a lot of a composer (even so called 'easy' pieces) can give a lot of insight into what made them play in a certain way.  schumann was very poetic.  nothing was in completely 'straight' time, imo.  that is why he is hard to play.  even the soldier's march or whatever - is not just straight march - but bump bump    bump bump   bump bump -- as though the marching guy is left right   left right   left right.  it makes some music much more interesting (when there is a lot of repetition) to do something slightly asymmetrical or different.  the key word being slightly.  the staccatos can give an impression (on the ends) of the march step having a wide space inbetween.  (or a hunting horn call).

also, i don't take staccatos literally as though every single staccato must be alike.  some can be accented - and more like marcatos.  this gives a sort of 'follow' the syllable accents in words.  if you read the poetry of schumann and the things he wrote in his musical 'journal' - you feel a sense of 'letting go' and as you say - being like a child.  seeing things from a child's perspective.  schumann was like a good photographer and could capture the essence of something simple.  mostly followed words, though.  the sound of the spoken word.