Clara Schmaun

• Clara and Robert had a close personal and professional relationship, studying and discussing music and poetry together.
• The placement of non-chord tones can affect the emotional impact of the music.
• Clara was Robert's rehearsal pianist for the groups he conducted.
• Clara was an accomplished pianist and the first international female solo pianist, touring extensively in Europe and playing at premieres of many of Robert's compositions.
• Her skill in playing Robert's works contributed to the success of his compositions.
• Robert Schumann had a family background in literature and the written word, initially studying with Frederick Wieck but leaving after a short time, causing tension between them.
• Clara and Robert wanted to marry, but Robert's father, Friedrich, opposed the union because Clara's income would become Robert's.
• At the time, a woman's wealth was typically transferred to her husband upon marriage.
• Clara's father initially refused to let her marry Robert, leading to significant legal battles.
• Clara's father even wrote defamatory letters to concert venues to harm her reputation and career.
• Despite these challenges, Clara and Robert eventually married in 1840.
• Lieder is the plural word for song in German.
• Liederkreis (or Lieder Cycle) is a collection of art songs by one composer, often with a common theme or storyline.
• Three notable song cycles created by Clara and Robert are: Dichterliebe, Frauenliebe und -leben, and Liederkreis.
• Dichterliebe is a song cycle depicting a young man's unrequited love, followed by depression and a journey through intense emotions.
• Frauenliebe und -leben is a song cycle from the perspective of Robert Schumann but sung by a woman, telling the story of a woman's life and her marriage, exploring themes of devotion and dedication.
• Clara and Robert's deep love for each other inspired them to create a significant amount of music, despite the challenges they faced.
• Clara Schumann was more famous than Robert Schumann during their time, due to gender bias, as Clara had limited access to education and was not allowed to publish music independently.
• Clara and Robert often collaborated on their compositions, and they would be credited jointly as Clara and Robert.
• Clara's compositions were sometimes published under both names to ensure their work reached the public.
• Clara and Robert maintained a written journal, referred to as a marriage diary, where they exchanged thoughts and feelings.
• Some artists, like Clara and Robert, find it easier to express their emotions through music rather than verbal communication, as evidenced by their written diary.
• Robert Schumann's health wasn't good, as mentioned in the text.
• Appogiatura is a dissonant note that resolves to a consonant note, creating a sense of surprise or tension.
• Focus on the lyrics of the song indicates a love story, possibly depicting the support one receives during tough times.
• Clara Schumann often used craley and pokesloot in her compositions to showcase the piano part.
• Clara Schumann utilized chromaticism, which involves going outside of the key the composition is written in, to create new colors and break the standards of prior classical and Baroque eras.
• The song was composed in 1846, ten years before Robert Schumann's death, which complicates its interpretation.
• Passing Tone is a note that connects two chord tones, steps between chord tones, and can move in either direction, creating a sense of passing or transitioning.
• Earl Crenney, a composer, gave characters in his work distinctive personalities and utilized tonality and chromaticism to evoke specific emotions in his listeners.
• Clara's style reflected the Romantic era, where composers sought to express emotions and create unique musical experiences.
• Clara Schumann's songs were admired by composers like Brahms, Mendelssohn, and Liszt, who appreciated her contributions.
• Non-chord tones are notes in a musical piece that do not belong to the underlying chord and add complexity and emotion to music.
• The idea of a musical character, emotion, and narrative is crucial to the understanding of songs from the Romantic era.
• Clara Schumann was a pianist and composer who continued to teach until she was almost 73 years old, which was considered a significant age at that time.
• A love story theme is evident in the song, where the subject arrives during stormy times, forms a deep bond, almost symbiotic in nature, and eventually, the subject has to leave, but the bond remains unbroken.
• Non-chord tones can occur on both strong and weak beats.
• Neighbor Tone is a note that is the same as a chord tone but then steps away and back to the same chord tone, creating a sense of returning to stability.
• Clara's Song "Erica's Good Comment" was the subject of a recent study by a student, speculated to reflect Brahms' role in Clara's life during her mourning for Robert.
• Suspension occurs when a note from the previous chord is sustained into the next chord, creating a sense of tension and resolution.