Schumann, Piano Trio In G Minor, Exposition

Question 1

When was this composed?
Where is Schumann from?
Who was she good friends with?

Answer 1

1846
Leipzig, same a Bach
Brahms

Question 2

What instruments is a piano trio for?
How many movements does it have?
What was a piano trio popular at the time?

Answer 2

Piano, violin, cello
4, 1 = allegro
Most households had a piano

Question 3

What roles are each of the instruments given?
Relationship between instruments

Answer 3

Equal roles- piano more interesting as Schumann a piano player
Contrapuntal

Question 4

Form of piece?

Answer 4

Sonata:
Exposition (express ideas)
Development
Recapitulation (ideas replayed/recapped)

Question 5

What 2 ideas/themes make up the exposition?
How are the ideas used?

Answer 5

1st subject:
Lyrical
2 phrases
More substance

2nd subject:
Chordal
Syncopated

Passed around disscussivley (conversation)

Question 6

Bars 1-8 key

Answer 6

Home key
Gm

Question 7

What plays the tune/has the most melodic ideas throughout ALL pieces?

Answer 7

Violin

Question 8

Describe the harmony of the entire piece

Answer 8

Tonal
Some chromatic movements
Diminished chords

Question 9

Describe the themes of the entire piece

Answer 9

Distinct rhythmic character

Question 10

Describe the tempo & meter of the entire piece

Answer 10

Clear sense of key, pulse & metre

Question 11

What does the 1st subject consist of?
When is it played?
Texture

Answer 11

Phrase 1A: 1-4
Phrase 1B: 5-8
Melody & chords- homophonic

Question 12

What does phrase 1A start and end with?

Answer 12

Downward open 5th
Dominant IV-V cadence

Question 13

What does phrase 1B start and end with?

Answer 13

Dominant (V)
Sequence of dotted crotchets

Home key Gm
Perfect cadence

Question 14

How do phrase 1A and B contrast each other?

Answer 14

1A = reeling chamber chords
1B = spiked, off-beat chords

Question 15

How is the 1st subject developed? (instruments)

Answer 15

1-8 (1A & 1B) repeated
BUT
Roles on instruments change
Cello enters with bass line
Violin has new countersubject

Question 16

What is the texture of the exposition?

Answer 16

Polyphonically animated homophony (clear melody & accompaniment but few poly elements)

Question 17

What chord is played at bar 11

Answer 17

Augmented 6th

Question 18

What happens to the pitch at bar 16?

Answer 18

Melody an octave higher

Question 19

When is there a link passage/transition to the 2nd subject?
What does this consist of?
What is the key?

Answer 19

22-45
2X Phrase 1C & 1D
Bflat relative major

Question 20

What is phrase 1C?
What is phrase 1D?

Answer 20

Spiked homophonic phrase

Fragmented falling idea
Short
Off-best phrases

Question 21

When is the 2nd subject played?
What does it consist of?
What instrument’s pitch is changed?

Answer 21

45-90
Phrase 2A & 2B
Cello in tenor (higher) range

Question 22

What pedal note is used in the 2nd subject?
What cadence is used?

Answer 22

F
Perfect in Bflat relative major

Question 23

Describe phrases 2A & 2B?
Together, how are they played?

Answer 23

2A = block chords, syncopated
2B = diminished 7th chord rising
Repeated X2 ascending or descending in pitch

Question 24

Describe the violins & cello:
Bars 53-55
Bars 61-68

Answer 24

Imitate each other
Unison octaves

Question 25

Describe the chords played in bar 73

Answer 25

Double stopped
Cycle of 5ths
On piano

Question 26

Describe the melody at end of exposition

Answer 26

Down pattern
Imitative

Question 27

Cadence at bar 83
Effect of type of cadence

Answer 27

Perfect in dominant Vm9
Adds dissonant extremism to cadence

Question 28

When is the cadette?

Answer 28

Bars 73-90

Question 29

Describe the new idea added in bar 85

Answer 29

Parallel 3rds on piano (idea used later on)