Chopin and SchumannRhythm and Phrasing

Thomas Mastroianni

Frederick Chopin (1810-1849)

• 1810 Born near Warsaw• 1830 Vienna then Paris• Kalkbrenner• Composer and piano

teacher, few public performances

Robert Schumann (1810 –1856)

• Music and LiteratureAugust – publisher & novelistJean Paul “Music is the moonlight in the gloomy night of life” ETA Hoffmann

• Friedrick Wieck• 1830 – Paganini (hand injury)• 1844 Counterpoint

SchumannAbegg

Variations

Accent placement

reveals phrasing

Papillons # 4

Phrase arch reveals

phrase rhythm

sf

3 4 1 2

Papillons # 7

Weak to Strong

Measures

Sonata # 2 Opening bars determine phrasing

Thematic Placement Reveals Bar Structure (Supplies a Focal Point)

Accents and cadential chords give balast to phrase

Phrase rhythm based on flow of 8th notes, harmonic arrival and

crescendos into 3 and 1

Harmonic closure, cadenzas and crescendos place phrase weight at

the end of phrases.

Rest to begin, harmonic tension to end = forward motion Chopin…. Nocturne op 27/2

2 3

4 1

Accents and unexpected harmony create weight

Chopin Nocturne, Opus 15 #2

Density of texture, Crescendos

Harmonic sequence (to IV, to I) Tension and repose in melody