Clara Schumann Piano Trio

• Clara Schumann was the first woman to perform as a soloist with orchestra from memory
• The piano trio is an ensemble consisting of one player on each of three instruments - violin, cello, and piano.
• Piano Trios are chamber music pieces that were popular during the Classical period (1750-1820).
• The time signature is 4/4 but feels like 2/2
• The key signature is G minor
• The Key signature of the 2nd subject is B flat major
• The articulation in the violins are pizzicatto
• At A level we study the 1st movement out of 5
• The piece was created in then Romantic time period
• The dynamics range from pp to ff
• Melodic devices: Descending melodic line, broken chords, imitation, chordal and arpeggios
• The texture is polyphonically animated homophony
• The structure is sonata form
• One feature of the instrumentation is Double stopping
• The tempo is allegro moderato
• The rhythmic features : Syncopation and dotted rhythms
• The playing of the piece is virtuosic
• The cadence used in the piece are perfect
• Harmonic features of this piece are: Dimished 7ths and dominant minor 9ths, circle of 5ths
• The pedals used in this piece are tonic and dominant
• The dynamic feature used in this piece of music are terraced dynamics
• Wider listening pieces:

  Sergi Arkiey- Dance of the knife

  The Hebrides Mendelssohn

  Journey Through Italy