Collaborative Piano Class

Northwestern University Bienen School of Music

Dr. Oura

Guidelines for short presentation (3-5 minutes) on your art song(s)

1.) Give us the title of your song, name of composer and the poet
a. Ich Stand in Dunkeln Träumen, Clara Schumann, Heinrich Heine
2.) Give us a short background information on the composer
a. from wiki: ​Clara Schumann​ (​née​ ​Clara Josephine Wieck​; 13 September 1819 –
20 May 1896) was a German pianist, composer and piano teacher. she exerted her
influence over a 61-year concert career, changing the format and repertoire of the
piano recital from displays of virtuosity to programs of serious works. She also
composed solo piano pieces, a ​piano concerto​ (​her Op. 7​), chamber music, choral
pieces, and songs.
b. The daughter of a professional pianist and an accomplished singer, she grew up in
Leipzig​. She was a child prodigy, trained by her father. She began touring at age
eleven, and was successful in Paris and Vienna, among other cities. She married
composer ​Robert Schumann​, and the couple had eight children. Together, they
encouraged ​Johannes Brahms​ and maintained a close relationship with him. She
premiered many works by her husband and by Brahms in public.
c. After Robert Schumann's early death, she continued her concert tours in Europe for
decades, frequently with the violinist ​Joseph Joachim​ and other chamber musicians.
Beginning in 1878, she was an influential piano educator at ​Dr. Hoch's
Konservatorium​ in Frankfurt, where she attracted international students. She edited
the publication of her husband's work. Schumann died in Frankfurt, but was buried in
Bonn​ beside her husband.
3.) Give us a short background information on the poet, if s/he was part of a larger
movement, his style of writing, what other composers set his/her poetry, etc.
a. Christian Johann Heinrich Heine​ (13 December 1797 – 17 February 1856) was a
German poet, writer and literary critic. He is best known outside Germany for his
early ​lyric poetry​, which was set to music in the form of ​lieder​ (art songs) by
composers such as ​Robert Schumann​ and ​Franz Schubert​. Heine's later verse and
prose are distinguished by their satirical wit and irony. He is considered part of the
Young Germany​ movement. His radical political views led to many of his works being
banned by German authorities​—which, however, only added to his fame.​[1]​ He spent
the last 25 years of his life as an ​expatriate​ in Paris.
4.) If it is part of a larger song cycle, give us a short summary of what happens in the cycle
a. Except for Walzer, all Clara Schumann's songs published during her lifetime were
written after her marriage to Robert Schumann and almost every song was intended
as a Christmas or birthday gift for her husband.
b. This one, however, in inscribed for the queen of Denmark, Caroline Amalie
5.) Give us a short summary of the text in your own words
a. I stand in the dark staring at your portrait, taking in your face and thinking of
you. I am very sad that you are gone.
Art Song Interpretation Sheets:
Answer the following questions in short paragraphs. Type them up, print, and turn it in at the
time of your coaching. (please repeat the questions in your writing for clarity.)

1.) Where are you? Do you imagine that the protagonist is inside a house or building or
outside in nature? Set the scene, describe where you imagine this story takes place. If
outside, please specify where (ex) forest, beach, park, busy streets, etc.)
In a dark study in an empty manor, staring at a portrait in the candlelight, I am alone. All of this
runs through my head- it’s very intimate and not meant to be shared, really.

2.) What season and what time of the day? Is there anything in the text to back it up?
It’s the bleakest of winter nights. The road outside is dead silent, covered with untouched
snow. Unlike lots of romantic German poetry, no nature is mentioned, nor any celestial objects.

3.) What is the function of the introduction? What mood do you set?
It is rife with longing. The extended suspensions and leading tones give a sense of
unsettled energy and direction. The light melody over constant motion and the florid
ornaments allow for phrasing and stretching which need to be established early on so the
singer can use them.

4.) Does the piano accompaniment texture evoke things like water, horse galloping,
hunting horns, gentle breeze, trees rustling, etc? If it does not, what is the function of
the piano accompaniment in the context of your song? Does it create a mood? How
does it support the singer and the text?
The repeated eighths create motion and allow for easy, gradual dynamic shifts, as well
as emphasizing the mood change when they suddenly stop in measure 4. The support and
constant energy in the is sorely missed when it falls away, leaving us with a sense of emptiness.
Throughout, the right hand melody often counters, but sometimes doubles, the vocal melody.
This interweaving grounds the singer and also complements them, as well as analogizing a
rocky relationship.
5.) What is the emotional journey of the song? Does the protagonist start with one
emotional state then move to a different state such as overcoming fear, letting go of
heart ache, moving on, etc.? Even if you think there is no emotional journey, can you
specify the emotional state of the protagonist at the beginning of the song, then in the
middle and at the end? (try not to use generic words like happy, but be specific like
excited, dreamy, hopeful, content, peaceful, etc.)
The protagonist begins with objective facts and setting the scene, but gradually turns
their narrative inward, focusing more and more on emotions as the song progresses. At first, he
handles himself well, but as he reflects on where he is (and, perhaps more importantly, where
he isn’t), he breaks down, feeling his grief overtake him.

6.) If there is a postlude, what is the function of the postlude? Does it continue to tell the
story or does it change or add a different layer to the story?
It could be mistaken for the intro, but has small differences. The main one is increased
emphasis on the melody, though it’s very subtle. The ending feels like a very long, effortful
inhale and exhale, suspension and resolution.