Krebs H. Fantasy Pieces: Metrical Dissonance in the Music of Robert Schumann

Oxford University Press, 1999. — 288 p.: musical examples.Fantasy Pieces examines from several vantage points a vital life-force of Robert Schumann's music, namely metrical conflict. Harald Krebs's imaginative yet rigorous study makes use of Schumann's fascinating projections of his own personality--the characters Florestan and Eusebius--as one means of addressing the biographical and aesthetic context of the music.In Counterpoint with the remarks of these personae, Krebs develops an original theory of metrical conflict by adapting the concepts of consonance and dissonance to metrical analysis. He investigates how states of metrical dissonance arise, and shows how they are manipulated and resolved in the course of compositions. He offers new methods for understanding the metrical progressions of entire works or movements, and studies the interaction of metrical conflict with form, with pitch structure, and with the texts of Schumann's vocal works. Krebs includes a wealth of illustrations from the whole range of Schumann's work and offers numerous insights important for performance. In the final chapter, he provides richly detailed studies of pieces by Schumann in various genres, interspersing them with shorter discussions of music by Berlioz, Chopin, Clara Schumann, Ives, and Schoenberg.This is a book that will appeal not only to students and scholars of music theory, but to all musicians interested in the life, work, and unique personality of Robert Schumann.Promenade through the Town of Euphonia
Waldscene: Ideas of Metrical Conflict in the Twentieth Century
Layers of Motion
Interaction of Layers
Resultant Rhythms
Relationships between Dissonances
Distinctions between Dissonances
Intermezzo I: Influences on Schumann's Metrical Style
Metrical Progressions
Metrical Maps
Metrical Processes
Intermezzo II: Metrical Revisions
Interactions of Metrical Dissonance with Pitch Structure, Form, and Extramusical Elements
Interactions of Metrical Dissonance with Form and Pitch Structure
Metrical Dissonance and Text
Meanings of Metrical Dissonance in Instrumental Music
Intermezzo III: Performing Metrical Dissonances
"Valse française" (Hector Berlioz, "Un bal," from Symphonie, fantastique)
"Mètres Dansants" (Robert Schumann, Intermezzi op. 4)
"Chopin" (Frédéric Chopin, various works)
"Répliques" (Robert Schumann, Scherzo in F Minor)
"Chiarina" (Clara Schumann, Piano Trio op. 17, second movement)
"Valses contre les Philistins" (Robert Schumann, Faschingsschwank aus Wien op. 26, first movement)
"Kreisler jun." (Johannes Brahms, Piano Sonata op. 5, first movement)
"Eusebius" (Robert Schumann, String Quartet op. 41 no. 2, second movement)
"Blumenstück" (Charles Ives, "Two Little Flowers")
"Florestan" (Robert Schumann, Symphony no. 3 op. 97, first movement)
"Pierrot" (Arnold Schoenberg, "Valse de Chopin" from Pierrot lunaire)
Epilogue: Morning Song
NotesList of Cited Works by Robert Schumann