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Romantic · character piece

Ritter vom Steckenpferd (Knight of the Hobbyhorse), Kinderszenen Op. 15 No. 9

Robert Schumann · Level 6, estimated · With Maestro

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The short answer

A hobbyhorse preserved in Schumann's first manuscript. Ritter vom Steckenpferd (Knight of the Hobbyhorse), Kinderszenen Op. 15 No. 9 is a character piece by Robert Schumann from the Romantic era. PlayPiano puts it at Level 6, an estimate.

On this page
  • character piece
  • Romantic
  • Key of C major
  • playful

Also known as Scenes from Childhood.

History

A manuscript of Ritter vom Steckenpferd survives at the Library of Congress. The editor describes it as an early version with differences from print; the same leaf includes the opening of Wichtige Begebenheit.

Sources

What to listen for

  1. Alternating gestures shape the opening

    Upper gestures alternate through the first repeated span. Hear their relationship rather than treating each attack as an unrelated accent.

  2. A fuller chordal contrast

    The next span uses a thicker chordal texture and changing pitch groups. Notice the fuller sound as a contrast with the opening gestures.

  3. Familiar gestures gain stronger voicing

    The closing gestures recall part of the opening and become more strongly voiced before the repeat. Hear the return of the shape within the fuller sound.

  4. Leave room for the last rest

    The source ends with a rest element after the repeated span. Let the released sound finish naturally rather than treating the rest as another note or an extra repeat cue.

How to practise it

Place the repeated upper pairs precisely over held bass.

  1. Speak the rhythm including the initial rest, then compare the tenuto and accented arrivals.
  2. Practise the held bass with voice 5 alone, preserving each layer's duration.
  3. Connect the examined opening at a comfortable tempo only when its separate layers feel settled.

How hard is it

Level 6, estimated

Repeated upper double notes enter after rests above sustained bass and changing lower chords. Controlled releases, chord balance and rhythmic placement require independent control.

About this piece

Interpretive sketch of Robert Schumann, an illustration and not a verified likeness
An illustration, not a portrait
Collection
Small scenes, big imagination
Licence
CC0
Source
musescore.com

More by Robert Schumann

  1. Album for the Young, Op. 68 No. 1, MélodieLevel 2, estimatedOpen to everyone
  2. Träumerei, Kinderszenen Op. 15 No. 7Level 6, estimatedWith Maestro
  3. Toccata in C major, Op. 7Level 10, estimatedWith Maestro

With Maestro

Play it, slow it down, hear where you land

Place the repeated upper pairs precisely over held bass.

Practise it in PlayPiano