Humoreske (Schumann)

Structure#

The Humoreske consists of seven sections (not originally indicated as such by the composer except for the last one, “”), to be played attacca after each other. Although the piece is nominally written in B major, most of the piece is set in B major’s relative minor key, G minor. The musical texture and emotional tone, though, varies widely and differs greatly between the sections: # "" (Simple) (B major, , M. M. = 80) #:"" (Very fast and light) (B major, , M. M. = 138) #:"" (Even faster) (G minor) #:"", (First tempo, as in the beginning) (B major, ) # "" (Hastily) (G minor, , M. M. = 126) #:"" (Gradually more lively and stronger) (D minor) #:"" (As previously) Adagio # "" (Simple and delicate) (G minor, , M. M. = 100) #:“Intermezzo” (B major, , M. M. = 100) # "" (Heartfelt) (B major, , M. M. = 116) #:"" (Quicker) (Tempo I) # "" (Very lively) (G-minor/B major, , M. M. = 76) #:"" (Increasingly lively) Stretto # "" (With some pomp) (modulating, , M. M. = 92) # "" (To the resolution) (B major, , M. M. = 112 ) Allegro A typical performance is about 27 minutes long. It is less popular with audiences than with pianists, and Robert Cummings wrote that some musicologists view it as an ill-judged attempt by Schumann to “take his formula in Kreisleriana a step further.” However, it has been championed by critics such as Judith Chernaik and John C. Tibbetts (who consider Humoreske among Schumann’s greatest pieces) as well as Anthony Tommasini, who referred to it as one of Schumann’s “most astonishing, and most overlooked, piano works”.

Sources#

• Robert Schumann: Sämtliche Klavierwerke, vol. IV, Breitkopf & Härtel, Wiesbaden 1988, pp. 1–29.

External links#

• Performance of Humoreske by Paavali Jumppanen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in MP3 format
• , Piano soloist: Alicia de Larrocha