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Romantic · character piece

Album for the Young, Op. 68 No. 3, Chanson fredonnée

Robert Schumann · Level 2, estimated · With Maestro

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The short answer

A little lullaby for Ludwig. Album for the Young, Op. 68 No. 3, Chanson fredonnée is a character piece by Robert Schumann from the Romantic era. PlayPiano puts it at Level 2, an estimate.

On this page
  • character piece
  • Romantic
  • gentle

Also known as Album for the Young, Op. 68 No. 3: Chanson fredonnée; Album pour la jeunesse - 3.Chanson fredonnée.

History

An early manuscript called this piece “Schlafliedchen für Ludwig” (“Little lullaby for Ludwig”), Schumann’s fifth child. The autograph later called it “Kinderstückchen” before the published “Trällerliedchen.”

Sources

What to listen for

  1. An upper song in two related phrases

    The upper line presents related phrases above moving lower notes. Hear the connection between the phrases without losing the supporting motion.

  2. The song moves into the lower register

    After the double bar, the lower staff carries the song while two upper strands continue. Follow the melody in its new position instead of assuming the highest line always leads.

  3. A short gesture reconnects the phrases

    The connecting upper gesture leads back toward the opening song. Hear it as a transition between the lower-led passage and the returning melody.

  4. The returning song reaches farther

    The upper opening song returns with a continuation that rises farther before closing. Compare the familiar start with the changed reach of the phrase.

How to practise it

Sing the quarter-note line over quiet returning G eighths.

  1. Play the first two upper phrases and listen through the G sustain.
  2. Practise the first lower pattern quietly before adding the upper quarters.

How hard is it

Level 2, estimated

The compact song-like texture asks for even phrasing and an audible melodic line over quieter support.

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 3.0
Source
mutopiaproject.org
Credit
“Album pour la jeunesse - 3.Chanson fredonnée” by R. Schumann (1810 to 1856). Mutopia edition maintained by Philippe Hézaine. Source: https://www.mutopiaproject.org/cgibin/piece-info.cgi?id=651. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/. 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

Sing the quarter-note line over quiet returning G eighths.

Practise it in PlayPiano