Schumann novelette op.21

[verywellmister]

I absolutely love the final novelette in the Schumann Op.21.  This is definitely a piece I want to learn in the future.  I watched somebody perform it at a competition and it looks tough to play.  Is it much harder than the Ravel Sonatine?  Thanks.

What are your opinions on the Novelettes?

[gonzalo]

I absolutely love the final novelette in the Schumann Op.21.  This is definitely a piece I want to learn in the future.  I watched somebody perform it at a competition and it looks tough to play.  Is it much harder than the Ravel Sonatine?  Thanks.

What are your opinions on the Novelettes?

Are they programmatic pieces?

[ilikepie]

Are they programmatic pieces?

What do you mean by programmatic? There are eight, the commonly played ones are no.1 and no.8(I haven't heard anyone play these live before, and couldn't find mp3s of nos.2~7). It should be ARCT level methinks(Canada).

[gonzalo]

What do you mean by programmatic? There are eight, the commonly played ones are no.1 and no.8(I haven't heard anyone play these live before, and couldn't find mp3s of nos.2~7). It should be ARCT level methinks(Canada).

Do they tell a story?

[ilikepie]

Do they tell a story?

No, as far as I know.

[gonzalo]

No, as far as I know.

I was thinking about that because of their name "Novelette" which I thought might have some relationship with novels. Maybe it means something else.

[kempff1234]

I had to learn the first one for my Trinity performer's certificate. They are demanding technically but when you get a grasp of them, they become quite fun to play. The best recording that I have heard is Richter, although many great pianists have recorded parts or one or two of them.

[verywellmister]

They are demanding technically but when you get a grasp of them, they become quite fun to play.

Exactly how demanding?  I play the Ravel Sonatine.  do you think I could handle it?

[ilikepie]

Exactly how demanding?  I play the Ravel Sonatine.  do you think I could handle it?

I played no.1 as a grade 10 exam piece. Both no.2 and no.8 are ARCT(Canada). Ravel Sonatine would be... dunno...

[verywellmister]

I played no.1 as a grade 10 exam piece. Both no.2 and no.8 are ARCT(Canada). Ravel Sonatine would be... dunno...

What does that mean?

[kempff1234]

What does that mean?

I would def. say that the Schumann is a bit harder than the sonatine (that is to play it correctly)

[ilikepie]

What does that mean?

It means I don't know Ravel Sonatine could be a Spanish Fruit Dessert for all I know.

[iumonito]

I was thinking about that because of their name "Novelette" which I thought might have some relationship with novels. Maybe it means something else.

The reference is to Clara Novello.  That Schumann was such a flirt.  This work is a series of longish tales of adventure…intimately connected and written with passionate joy -- cheerful and flighty…but somewhere I also hit rock bottom.

https://msupress.msu.edu/bookTemplate.php?bookID=2790

https://www.bh2000.net/score/pianschm/sp23.pdf#search=%22novelletten%20schumann%22

Two lls by the way.  Novelletten.  Great work, very difficult musically.