Friday, January 31, 2014

Chasing Themes

This post concerns the work of Robert Schumann. I have colored the time markers in order to more clearly indicate between which two points one is asked to make a comparison. For instance, the red time stamp of 2:06 in the Schumann Concerto asks one to compare what one hears with that of 3:02 in the Bach Concerto. In this fashion, the remaining three video clips are each compared with the same blue time stamp of 1:48, which refers to the Schumann. In Another case..., the final two video clips are to be compared in turns with the same first magenta time stamp of 0:30-0:48. 

Unbelievably, the only recording of the third of Liszt's Soirées de Vienne available on YouTube is in the form of a piano roll. These pieces were themselves constructed on backs of various waltzes by Schubert, Liszt expanding the material greatly. However, I could not identify in the waltzes which are said to constitute the third soirée that material heard at the time stamp and therefore should be considered Liszt's invention. Furthermore, because the soireés and the concerto appear to have been composed at nearly the same time, I hesitate to say which came first and who borrowed from whom. In the cases remaining, the dates of composition are sufficiently separated so as to claim precedence.


Four Respective Comparisons: The First
Robert Schumann – Piano Concerto in A minor (1845)
[beginning at 2:06 and 1:48, respectively]

Heard here...
Johann Sebastian Bach – Harpsichord Concerto No. 1 in D minor (c. 1739)
[beginning at 3:02]


Four Respective Comparisons: The Rest
Heard here...
Franz Liszt – Soirée de Vienne No. 3, S.427 (c. 1846-52)
[beginning at 7:31]

And here...
Felix Mendelssohn – Rondo Capriccioso in E major (c. 1828-30)
[beginning at 4:55]

And here...
Ludwig van Beethoven – Piano Sonata No. 11 in B-flat major (1800)
[beginning at 24:23]


Another case...
Robert Schumann – Novelette No. 2 in D major (1838)
[beginning at 0:30-0:48]

Heard here...
Franz Schubert – String Quartet No. 14 in D minor (1824)
[from beginning]

And here...
Ludwig van Beethoven – Violin Sonata No. 9 "Kreutzer" (1804)
[beginning at 35:44]

This blog is intended as a space within which I will share my findings related to classical music appropriation. Many composers in the past have quoted, borrowed, and recycled the themes and melodies of others. Having already noted many such instances, I hope to include the more interesting, and convincing, examples herein.