Composer

:

Clara Wieck Schumann

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Polonaise

Compose Date

:

1829 - 1830

Publication Date

:

Feb 2001Feb 1831

Average_duration

:

13:05

Movement_count

:

4

Movement ....

Clara Wieck Schumann's Polonaises (4), Op. 1, were composed in 1831 when she was just 12 years old. The work premiered in Leipzig on October 29, 1831, with Clara performing the pieces herself. The Polonaises are a set of four short pieces, each with its own distinct character and mood. The first Polonaise is in C major and has a bright and lively character. It begins with a fanfare-like introduction before launching into the main theme, which is full of energy and excitement. The second Polonaise, in E major, is more subdued and introspective. It features a lyrical melody that is passed between the hands and is accompanied by delicate arpeggios. The third Polonaise, in G minor, is the most dramatic of the set. It opens with a dark and brooding introduction before launching into a fast and furious main theme. The piece is full of sudden shifts in dynamics and tempo, creating a sense of tension and urgency. The final Polonaise, in B-flat major, is the most virtuosic of the set. It features a fast and flashy main theme that is full of technical challenges for the performer. Overall, the Polonaises showcase Clara's prodigious talent as a young composer and pianist. They are characterized by their lively rhythms, lyrical melodies, and dramatic contrasts in mood and tempo. Despite their youthful exuberance, the Polonaises are also marked by a sense of maturity and sophistication that belies Clara's age.

More....