Schumann's Concerto Leitmotif - Inside the music with Jonathan James

Подробнее о видео

Musical educator Jonathan James introduces Schumann's use of leitmotif in his concertos and the hidden romance and beauty contained within them.

Transcription:
It can be difficult for a composer to bring form and structure to concerto, which can easily slip into just a series of episodes for the soloist to show off. So one of the ways you can do this is by having a clear rallying call; a motif. And Schumann, in his piano concerto, does just that.

That’s it! It's very simple. Three descending notes. But, in these notes is a code. 'C', 'H' if you use the German spelling and many composers do just to expand the alphabet, and then two 'A's. “C H A A”. And this is short for Chiara, which in turn is Italian for Clara the name of his wife and the woman who inspired him on so many occasions but critically was the person who brought about this piano concerto, he composed it for her and it was directly inspired by her.

So it's particularly appropriate, isn't it, that this leitmotif, which comes throughout the first movement, should be such a lovely tribute to her, his wife.

One of the beautiful versions of this in the first movement is when it comes back in the major key.

So normally, it's the minor, but listen to this...It's so beautiful isn't it? I really love that moment. And it's cast as a dialogue between other solo instruments.

So there is a very Romantic touch to this concerto and romance lies at its core. But there's always Classical restraint as well and in the middle movement we get something that I think sounds like Mozart.

Very, very Classical. It's almost out of place, but Schumann makes it work and actually this feature of having something that is deeply romantic, but never sentimental or gushy, but still very, very romantic, combined with this kind of Classical poise and restraint, that combination is quintessential Schumann.

Schumann wrote so much beautiful piano music. Is this concerto of his the pinnacle of it all for you? We'd love to hear your thoughts, so comment in the section below, and feel free to like and subscribe to our videos.

Thanks for watching.