Fairy tales

This page relates to the work musical of Robert Schumann. For the marvellous tales, lira: Tale

The Märchenbilder , COp 113 are four pieces of music for viola and Piano of the German Compositeur Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856). They are indicated by their indication of Tempo:

Nicht schnell
Lebhaft
Rasch
Langsam, put melancholischem Ausdruck

Genesis

Written in four days, of the first at March four 1851, it is with his/her friend Joseph von Wasielewski (first Violon of the Orchestre of Düsseldorf, orchestra whom Schumann directed then) that the type-setter intended them. At that time indeed, many were the Violoniste S, which with the image of Paganini, played as well of the violin as of the viola.

Published one year later, they were still created a year afterwards, in November 1853, by the dedicatee and the woman of the type-setter to the piano.

First parts for viola and piano to be released from the traditional form Sonata, Märchenbilder became parts impossible to circumvent of the repertory of the viola. Rare are the Altiste S which did not make a recording of it (see the lower discography).

It is the universe of the Conte S of Fée S which inspired Schumann here, as in its Märchenerzählungen for Clarinette, viola and piano, moreover often coupled in disc with Märchenbilder.

Detail of work

The four parts all are built around the tone of D . minor D for the first and the third, the relative tonality of major F for the second and finally major D for the last.

The unit lasts about fifteen minutes.

Nicht schnell (not quickly)

This first part feels like a serene dialog between the viola and the piano, however tinted melancholy and of regret.

Lebhaft (sharp)

The second part opens with the third agreements in of the viola, taken again then by the piano. The pointed and run up against rates/rhythms are another characteristic of this movement.

Rasch (fast)

The triplet S of doubles of the viola gives the tone of this third part where cavalcade and periods of respite are alternated.

Langsam, put melancholischem Ausdruck (slow, with a melancholic expression)

The fourth part constraste strongly with the two preceding ones. The slow tempo and the alleviating reasons developed by the viola give him an atmosphere of Berceuse.

Selective discography

Order: altist & pianist.

Michel Michalakakos & Martine Gagnepain (2001)
Yuri Bashmet & Mikhail Muntian (1990)
Gerard Causse & François-Rene Duchable (1980)
Serge Collot & Julie Guigue

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