Carnaval Sphinxes, What is it?

[frederic]

What is it? I mean i have a copy of Carnaval and after No. 8 there is a title Sphinxes and under that, 3 bars of really strange looking notes.
It says it shouldn't be played.
But how exactly do you play 3 bars of strange looking notes?
Why shouldn't pianists play it?
Sorry, im not familiar to this work and i am just starting to explore Schmann's work more carefully.

[ned]

Frederic
This  question is discussed below in this topic group started by sary2106, last post Feb 18 RachFan.
Ned

[ramseytheii]

What is it? I mean i have a copy of Carnaval and after No. 8 there is a title Sphinxes and under that, 3 bars of really strange looking notes.
It says it shouldn't be played.
But how exactly do you play 3 bars of strange looking notes?
Why shouldn't pianists play it?
Sorry, im not familiar to this work and i am just starting to explore Schmann's work more carefully.

Schumann was the msot enigmatic of composers, and included this "Sphinx" (riddle) to suggest a code behind the Carnaval.  Some pianists do play it, others acknowledge it with a bit of silence, and others still don't acknowledge it at all.  I recommend listening to the Rachmaninoff recording of Carnaval, where he turns the Sphinxes into a frightening, lurking beast that puts you on the edge of your seat.

Walter Ramsey

[jakev2.0]

Right! The Rachmaninov recording is mind-blowing. He made me appreciate the Carnaval.

[arensky]

I heard Horowitz play them a la Rachmaninov in his Boston stop on the infamous 83-84 "Horowitz on Drugs" tour. The effect was quite bizarre. I don't think they're meant to be played.

[iumonito]

The instruction not to play it is from Clara, who tamed down a lot of Robert's most daring moments.

The strange looking notes a minimae, twice as big as a whole note.