Robert Schumann "Santa Claus"
The name of the German composer - the romance of Robert Schumann is well known not only to adult lovers of classical music, but also to young performers who take the first steps into the wonderful world of art. The maestro deserved such universal recognition by right, since he directed his composer attention with diligence to the creative development of children. Everyone is well known, written specially for the younger generation, piano cycles, including the Album for the Young, which includes 43 beautiful miniatures. The plays included in this collection are true masterpieces that reflect the emotional world of childhood in all its colors, such as the much-popular colorful piece "Santa Claus".
The history of the creation of the play by Robert Schumann "Santa Claus", as well as the musical content of the work, read on our page.
History of creation
Since the miniature "Santa Claus" is included in the cycle "Album for the Young", it is, of course, that the stories of their creation are closely interconnected. Everyone is well aware that Robert Schumann immensely loved his little ones, and by 1848 there were already five of them in the composer’s family. The oldest of the children was Maria. The kind girl in the family was adored and waited impatiently on September 1 - her birthday.
That year, Marichen, as parents called their daughter, was seven years old. All diligently preparing for the holiday, trying to please her and surprise with some special gift. Undoubtedly, a loving father, too, pondered for a long time on how you can amuse your daughter on such a festive day for her and decided to make an unusual surprise for the girl: to compose a small piece. The miniature melody performed on the solemn day was so charming that it immediately received enthusiastic approval from all family members. Inspired by praise, as well as inspired by his wife, a talented pianist Klara Wieck, the composer thought about creating a whole cycle of pieces that would help novice pianists to master the instrument with pleasure.
Having caught fire with this idea, Schumann immediately took up the realization, as he himself considered, of such an interesting idea. Only a week passed, and the whole collection of wonderful miniatures, which included the above-mentioned play "Santa Claus", was already ready. Having discussed each play with his wife, the composer divided them according to the complexity of the presentation of the musical material and sent it to the publishing house for printing. For the first time, young musicians met at the end of 1848 with the compilation, originally called "Christmas Album for Children". And in 1851, he edited it out of print with his real title “Album for the Young”.
Content
Speaking about the figurative content of this work, it should be noted that there is some confusion, which arose because of the name of the work. The fact is that in our country the play is called "Santa Claus". This character, which we associate with a joyful holiday, good, as well as gifts, is in no way associated with the malicious image drawn in the work by Robert Schumann. The answer to this riddle lies in the title, which the composer himself gave to his composition. "Knecht Ruprecht": accurate translation from German - servant Ruprecht.
If you know what this character is, then the figurative content of the work will immediately become more intelligible. Ruprecht in German folklore is the companion of St. Nicholas during the Christmas processions. Compared with his master, the servant of the “Prelate” does not have a good temper, and before Christmas, bypassing the houses, he finds out where the good and bad children live in order to reward them or punish them. Ruprecht gives obedient children sweets, and careless beats with a bag of ash. Proceeding from this tradition, all the images of the work that we call "Santa Claus" become clear, that is, this approaching evil Ruprecht, and fearful, trembling children.
The play, whose music can be described as agitated and even dramatic, the composer wrote in three-part form.
The first part, consisting of three periods, begins in a low register with energetic and energetic movement. The melodic line with the accentuated allocation of the first parts actively and purposefully goes up. Each sentence approvingly ends with chords, deliberately underlined with a forte. In the second period, the octave presentation of the material remains the same, but the melody here moves not up, but down.
The middle section, which also includes three eight-tact periods, begins quietly, with an alarming theme circling almost in one place, displaying the fright and trembling of children. The first four bars of the second period is the most sullen place in the work, here the ominous sounding theme is in lower case. Soon enlightenment begins in the character of the music and a melodic line appears in the upper voice.
The final part of the work completely repeats the first part, but without reprisal repetitions.
The main difficulties encountered in the performance of the play "Santa Claus".
- First, in the work it is important to find such a way of picking, with which you can create an image of a formidable wizard.
- Also in the first part it is necessary to ensure that the sound of the sixteenth notes filled to the same degree, despite the accents, turns into a single stream.
- The work on the middle part of the miniature also requires special attention, since here in the first period, and then the four bars of the third period, there is a hidden polyphony that needs to be learned to listen.
"Santa Claus"- a colorful miniature from the Album for the Young, compiled by Robert Schumann directly for children, earned great recognition. Young musicians like this piece, and they play it with pleasure, not only on the piano, as originally written by the composer, but on other instruments. Such an interest in a work is determined by its artistic and pedagogical value.
Leave Your Comment