This work comes from one of Schumann's most productive years for chamber music: 1849. As with the other chamber works from that year, the Five Pieces in Folk Style are relatively easy to perform. They avoid the overt complexities of many of the composer's other works. Indeed, they are quite tuneful and generally calm. (Perhaps Schumann was attempting to stave off the onset of his mental illness!) The first piece ("Vanity of Vanities: With humor") includes a swooping, perhaps gypsy-inspired, cello line. The second piece ("Fairly slowly") is quite pastoral, giving the impression of walking alongside a brook. The third piece ("Not quickly, playing with much tone") is especially melodic in the cello, with the piano rather "sputtering" by comparison. The fourth piece ("Not too briskly") is at first a joyous dance, but this style quickly gives way to a more mellow tune. The last piece ("Starkly and markedly") rounds out the set by being somewhat reminiscent of the first one.
Classical Music | Cello Music
Robert Schumann
5 Stücke im Volkston for Cello and Piano, Op. 102 Play
Recorded on 01/11/2012, uploaded on 05/04/2012
Musician's or Publisher's Notes
This work comes from one of Schumann's most productive years for chamber music: 1849. As with the other chamber works from that year, the Five Pieces in Folk Style are relatively easy to perform. They avoid the overt complexities of many of the composer's other works. Indeed, they are quite tuneful and generally calm. (Perhaps Schumann was attempting to stave off the onset of his mental illness!) The first piece ("Vanity of Vanities: With humor") includes a swooping, perhaps gypsy-inspired, cello line. The second piece ("Fairly slowly") is quite pastoral, giving the impression of walking alongside a brook. The third piece ("Not quickly, playing with much tone") is especially melodic in the cello, with the piano rather "sputtering" by comparison. The fourth piece ("Not too briskly") is at first a joyous dance, but this style quickly gives way to a more mellow tune. The last piece ("Starkly and markedly") rounds out the set by being somewhat reminiscent of the first one.
Notes by Durrell Bowman
More music by Robert Schumann
Maerchenbilder for viola and piano - I mov, op.113
Nur wer die Sehnsucht kennt, from Lieder und Gesänge aus Wilhelm Meister
Carnaval, Op. 9
Adagio and Allegro, Op. 70
Wehmuth, from Liederkreis, Op. 39
Novellette no. 6 in A Major: Sehr lebhaft mit vielem Humor, from Novelletten, Op. 21
Presto Passionato in g minor, Op. 22a
Faschingsschwank aus Wien, Op. 26 (Carnival of Vienna)
Sonata No. 1 for Violin and Piano in A minor, Op. 105
Ich hab' im Traum geweinet (from Dichterliebe)
Performances by same musician(s)
Sonata for Cello and Piano in e minor, Op. 38
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