The only recording in the world of Schumann's "Traumerei" at the correct, AUTHENTIC "Tempo = 100", indicated by Schumann instead of the usual "tempo for funeral".Can we imagine that instead of light-hearted, joyful "Jingle Bells" everyone in the world played this song as a gloomy music for the funeral at the speed of a snail? This is exactly what is happening today with lovely Schumann's "Traumerei". It is only performed by everyone at a pace of a funeral march, it is often included in the funeral ceremony, and it even sounds round-the-clock over the memorial of one-and- a- half million soldiers that died in the Second World War's "Stalingrad Battle". But this is not something that is written for us by the composer at all.Schumann's wife Clara Wieck was a wonderful pianist, judging from the feedback from many of her great contemporaries. Often she joked over Schumann that he seemed and behaved like a child. Those who have read the literary works of Schumann, will most likely agree with her. And there's nothing wrong with: many good people remain to be children until their last days - it had been noticed for long.In response to these jokes of his famous wife, Schumann wrote "30 easy and amusing (droll) pieces for piano", from which he selected later 13 pieces and titled this compilation "Children's scenes" ("The Kinderszenen"). The "Traumerei" ("Daydreaming") - is just one of these "Easy and Amusing Pieces." Schumann probably meant precisely this feature of his own character. He described these songs as "more CHEERFUL, gentler, more melodic" than his earlier works.To avoid misrepresentation of "Traumerei", Schumann specially indicated the EXACT TEMPO of performing: "Quarter note = 100 bpm ". Unfortunately, the nowadays' musicians prefer to copy the so-called "interpretation" of any celebrity, rather than to look at the score. Recently I checked all the recordings of "Traumerei" on You-Tube. No pianist has played this song at Schumann's authentic tempo of "100". Usually the tempo was only "50" or lower. At the same time, the most interesting rhythmic structure of this song is usually ignored completely and replaced by the pianist's own improvisation in the style "ad libitum" = "as you like". And it is not random blunder of several musicians, but a modern "philosophy of performing". The most vivid presentation of this "philosophy" I heard from Mr. Richard Cock. He told me: "What is your Bach in comparison with me? Bach today - it is only a handful of dust in his grave. And I am an acting Principal Conductor of the Radio and TV of South Africa. Your Bach can not correct me, but I can correct Bach in any way I want."With this my recording of "Traumerei" in the Schumann's authentic tempo I invite all the musicians to perform this song as it was written by the composer. I hope that among modern virtuoso pianists there should still be those who are able to record this most famous Schumann's song at the genuine tempo and with the authentic rhythm instead of the usual rhythmic disorder in every measure of this great music. I hope sincerely that my "record at authentic tempo" will not be the only one in the world for a long time. I would be grateful for the links to these new recordings.Vladimir Dounin
As stated before, as a Classical Pianist/Philosopher, I utilize the discipline of Scientific Empiricism. That means: I cite sources related to your argument.
Don't mind me just dropping these offI'll be on me way now
Don't listen to him, he's just jealous of your talent. Please keep posting.
Oh goodie - the trolls are uniting... just what we f@#$ing need.
Why not to discuss the most important things in our profession?Are Yuja Wang's dresses more interesting and important for you and other members of pianists' forum?
I tried your experiment - and you didn't even acknowledge it. See the consensus for yourself! https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=64450.0
We're not the ones clowning and mocking the music of Schumann here - you are with your ridiculous tempo. The collective mass of Piano street has made their opinion clear in this thread, but you simply refuse to listen to people. Don't try and paint us as being the fools...
Vlad.. I think you've more than made your point. Perhaps you made a few converts.. Perhaps not.. Maybe some will play it a bit faster, if not even up to 100bpm. What more are you expecting? I hope that if the general response isn't to your liking, you won't still be brewing on this for another 6 months.. Life is too short..
We really need a 'block user' option for these forums.
VLADIMEME
However, calls for the introduction of "censorship of thoughts" are considered indecent among intelligent people.
No, actually it's not. There are people out there who are misogynists, sexist, racist and people who agree with the eradication of some types of races. They could claim bias against the 'censorship of their thoughts', but it doesn't mean their right.
He’s already posted on the ‘other forum’ which drifted into other composers music and metronome markings. Interestingly, he did not reply to this post which provides an explanation for Schumann’s MM https://m.youtube.com/watch?t=1s&v=UCbrorcWvyE
Right and wrong as moral concepts will always be relative and tied to things like culture or religion. It is dangerous to try to control thoughts and ideas instead of actions even when done for good purpose... I'd like to see efforts to try to increase critical and rational thinking instead. This includes discussing even the weirdest ideas and increasing understanding instead of black and white thinking. But of course critical and rational people are not good for business and politics...History has shown that there is no contradiction between having a strong sense of what's "right" and being cruel. People who strongly believe in right and wrong can be the least tolerant for diversity. Trying to ban SOME ideas because they are wrong will just open a can of worms.Back to the topic, I think any sort of novel ideas are fine even if nuts... and it's also natural to get obsessed when you think you have discovered something new. Object as much as you like but if it really bothers you so much it would be better to not open the thread. After all you know already what to expect from the op.
Your message is complete disinformation.I heard this dubious version about the need to count two metronome beats for one for the whole music of 19th century. However, it's completely inconclusive. After all, in this case you will have to revise all the music of the 19th century and play all the works like Mephisto Waltz and Chopin's Studies twice as slow.Instead of this total revision, I suggested that the author simply play 4/4 instead of his variable Time Signature. With variable Time Signature (listen to my "TEST" on this page) tempo 100 sounds really disgusting because of the complete nonsense in the melody. However, the same tempo sounds absolutely natural, if you do not distort Schumann's music and play his genuine 4/4.He replied "like" to my comments.
Unfortunately, I can not afford being FULL TIME Forum member. I read and write only, when it is possible for me.
I actually can't imagine what a "full time" forum member would be. It's not like employment where one commits one's time to 8 hours/day from Mon. to Fri. I literally don't know what that means.Meanwhile you are asking members here to create performances according to your specifications. That may take quite a commitment of time, to practise a piece in this manner, then make a quality recording, where the member also has to put himself out there for strangers of all kinds in the world to judge them. Some of us are students and couldn't do this at all. You are asking for a LOT from members; and a thing that may not interest them. I.e. in the sense of time commitment that you just raised.
When some members began to feed the trolls, the guards requested they not do this. "Because trolls will never shut the $@*% up, if they at least once scored a reply to their nonsense"
Topic: The only recording in the world of Schumann's "Traumerei" at the correct tempo 