Example Abstract for Performance

1st Position, Seventeenth Annual Graduate Exhibition

Sik Lai Sung

College: College of Arts and Architecture

Department: Performance
Title: Carnaval Op.9 by Robert Schumann
Abstract:

As Schumann's best known character piece and perhaps his most comprehensive work, the Carnaval is also a landmark in nineteenth century romantic piano literature. This thirty-minute long piece consists of 21 miniatures with titles. Each piece has a different character which create the impression of a festive masked ball in which all these characters are taking part: Pierrot and Arlequin from the Commedia dell'arte, Eusebius (Schumann's inner personality), Florestan (Schumann's contrasting, outgoing personality), Chopin, Paganini, Chiarina (Clara Wieck),etc interweaved with waltzes. The grand cycle finishes with a grand March of the "League of David" against the Philistines, in which the "League of David" is Schumann's imaginary society of artists against the Philistines of bad taste.

The work is organized by a set of character variations around motives derived from musical representation of the letter ASCH and SCHA. ASCH stand for the name of the city where Ernestine von Fricken, which whom Schumann had been in love, lived, and SCHA are letters in his own last name. These notes are employed prominently in most of the numbers in the Carnaval.

The satisfaction of playing this piece comes from successfully bringing out a wide variety of moods, characters and tone colors to the audience, as well as overcoming the technical challenges, which is especially highlighted in the "Paganini", named for the famous virtuoso.

Titles of excerpt: Chopin A.S.C.H.--S.C.H.A.(Letter Dansantes) Valse allemande Paganini Aveu Pause Marches des "Davidsbundler"