A Recital of his Pianoforte Works
Played by Mrs. Norman O'Neill
Arabesque
The Prophet Bird Carnival (Op. 9)
Preamble; Pierrot; Harlequin; Noble Valse; Eusebius; Florestan; Coquette; Reply; Butterflies; A.S.C.H. - S.C.H.H. (Dancing letters); Chiarina; Chopin; Estrella; Reconnaissance; Pantaloon and Columbine; German Waltz, Intermezzo-Paganini; Avowal; Promenade; Pause; March of the David-league against the Philistines
Most of the pieces are based on four notes the names of which are to be found as letters in Schumann's name, and also in that of a town, Asch, where lived a lady friend of his, Ernestine van Fricken (one of the little pieces is named after her). By making the scene a carnival ball he was able to bring in all sorts of people, real and imaginary. The latter included two characters whom he had invented in the musical paper he edited - Florestan and Eusebius, who represent two sides of his own character, the lively and the introspective. Chiarina is a pet name for Clara Wieck, whom Schumann later married. The "Dancing Letters" (usually not played) are three forms of those on which Carnival is founded. These are printed in the score as S (=Es ÂÂi.e., E Flat), C, H, A ; as As (= A Flat), C, H, and as A, S, C, H. The last piece of all is a March in which Schumann typifies himself and his idealistic friends making war on bad, old Philistine traditions in art.
