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Romantic · character piece

Album for the Young, Op. 68 No. 16, Premier chagrin

Robert Schumann · Level 4, estimated · With Maestro

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The short answer

First Loss had an earlier name. Album for the Young, Op. 68 No. 16, Premier chagrin is a character piece by Robert Schumann from the Romantic era. PlayPiano puts it at Level 4, an estimate.

On this page
  • character piece
  • Romantic
  • melancholic

Also known as Album for the Young, Op. 68 No. 16: Premier chagrin; Album pour la jeunesse - 16.Premier chagrin.

History

Before publication as “Erster Verlust” (“First Loss”), Schumann’s autograph called this piece “Kinderunglück” (“Child’s Misfortune”). The engraver’s copy shows still another title change and reversal.

Sources

What to listen for

  1. A high song above sparse replies

    A high pickup starts the upper song above sparse lower responses. Hear the long melodic thought without making the supporting replies equally prominent.

  2. A familiar statement changes its close

    The next written statement recalls the upper melody but changes its closing gesture. Compare the familiar beginning before following the new ending.

  3. The song moves between registers

    The opening contour passes into the lower staff beneath quieter upper space, then returns higher. Follow the melodic shape rather than assuming the top staff always leads.

  4. Detached chords give a different ending

    Stronger detached chordal replies close the repeated region. Hear the change from the earlier song-like texture while leaving the releases clear.

How to practise it

Carry the opening melody through the initial silence below.

  1. Practise the descent into B and keep counting through its sustain.
  2. Count the opening silence and practise that first lower tie accurately.

How hard is it

Level 4, estimated

Restrained expressive phrasing, legato control and harmonic balance make the slow character more demanding than its speed suggests.

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
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.5
Source
mutopiaproject.org
Credit
“Album pour la jeunesse - 16.Premier chagrin” by R. Schumann (1810 to 1856). Mutopia edition maintained by Philippe Hézaine. Source: https://www.mutopiaproject.org/cgibin/piece-info.cgi?id=676. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.5: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5/. Changes to the supplied file: none; any later conversion or edit must be disclosed separately.

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

Carry the opening melody through the initial silence below.

Practise it in PlayPiano