All the comments on your page here prove that you are right, and the suggestion that you can play with much more emotion in a slow tempo only proofs that some modern players can put more emotion in the piece than what Schumann’s intention was. Anyway, everybody can play in any tempo, but if you are more open and less slow minded, it is amazing how much more beautiful this little piece is in your tempo.
Talsma tried to use his half tempo theory for the 17th and 18th century metronomes as well, but if you read the original descriptions it is obvious that Talsma is wrong.
Talsma found out that in his time, baroque music was played much slower then the 18th century metronome markings.
In stead of jumping to the conclusion that we played too slow, he invented the half tempo theory.
Dear Justin, have you ever heard of the half tempo theory, described by Talsma and Gadient? Please listen to my recording of the studies of Burgmuller, opus 100. On youtube you can search for: Burgmüller Gerard van Reenen. Within a short time I hope to post also Album fúr die Jugend of Schumann with metronome marks of his wife Clara.So, the number of quarternote= 100 you must read as 50 and then the piece is a real Träumerei. Like you play it it is not romantic, but contemporary.
Hm ... it's not bad and your playing is very very well but i prefer the slow version because there is more emotion. I think in a slower tempo you can more enjoy it. Robert Schumann wrote a geniusly Harmonic only for the enjoyment in this song!
Good job! Too fast though, but that's just my opinion. Those metronome markings suggested are often too fast. It seems kind of emotionless. That's just me though. If you feel the piece should be played that way, fair enough.
tempo in music is almost like a signature and conveys a certain feelings.. tempo isnt a variation factor its the soul of the intended piece.. i have heard many play this piece and this is the first time that i actually WAS NOT moved at ALL whatso eva.. it souned like somthin comtply differnt.. it lost all its emotions at this reidiclous tempo.. play much slower and it needs to have a drag at the slower pieces then speed up a bit at the 4 notes or whteva u wana call it.. bad tempo.. no disrespect
Justinsanner, I agree with you. My copy is marked at 100 for the metronome too. The tempo you play it at sounds much better than the speed you usually hear it played at. I've heard recordings of this piece by professionals that were at snail speed. Does not sound good like that. Good job. Just next time, play it on a grand piano. :)
Well, this is very interesting. I just set my metronome and played it at both tempos, though not as beautifully as Justin. Played at eighth note at 100 it satisfies my musical memory bank because I have heard it played at this tempo in numerous recordings. Played at quarter note at 100, the piece has a vitality and I believe is more consistent with the tempos and musical quality of the other Kinderszenen pieces. Shall we call it a draw?
From studying this piece, I am rather convinced that the metronome marking of a quarter note at 100 is absolutely correct. In the score there are many phrase indications. There are many 4 note phrases/groups of notes as well as long phrases. When the piece is played at or near the metronome marking one can hear all of these short phrases, long phrases and slurs quite easily. (continued below)
But from my experience of playing the piece at a much slower tempo which I have done on occasion (or at the pace of a slug), it is really very difficult for the listener to know and hear where one phrase ends and the next one begins, especially the 4 note phrases. It just sounds like notes. (continued below)
Also, there are 3 indications for a ritardando in the piece. At the slow slug speed that many people play this piece, how could one put in a noticeable ritardando without coming to a complete stop? So again, I think the indicated metronome marking is correct.
Your approach might work if the score were marked "Affettuoso," or "Espressivo," (for example) at the beginning of the piece, but other than the ritardandos, there are no such tempo changes indicated in the score (and I used the Henle Urtext Edition). Obviously the piece should not sound as though one is playing along with a metronome and then there is artistic license (use of rubato, for example), ---continued below---
but there are no indications in the score that the 4 note phrases should be played at a slower tempo and the longer phrases played at a faster tempo (no markings of Accelerando, for example).
i think the metronom 100 is not fpr the quater note but for "eight" notes which makes half of your tempo. it was schumann's error. simple explanation. i know that melzels metronom was not liked by the composer that time. or do you think that bethoven op.106 is possible to play in the suggested tempo?
however - i like that you try to do what the composers have written. unfortunately they made errors like anybody else. have good luck and great fun with your studies
Thank you, Justin, for a lovely performance. I enjoy the tempo - it feels more deliberate and energetic. The emotion is carried in the beautiful melody.
Thanks for your comment and for your open-mindedness. Many (most?) people can't conceive of a piece being played anyway than the way they have always heard it played. Some say the metronome marking (a quarter note at 100) for this piece is incorrect. Well then, one would have to start questioning all the metronome markings in this set of pieces, not just the marking for Träumerei. To me, the very, very slowly way most pianists play Träumerei sounds like a practise tempo. It just drags along.
well..the tempora is O.K.!4 some it's better than slowly&I personal,too,like it a little bit slowlier..but all in all:nice to hear.Loviin this piece!!
Very nice, although some have suggested that the metronome mark is an early misprint, originally having been a quaver [8th note in American?] rather than a crotchet to 100BPM.
It's certainly interesting to hear it played up tempo, whatever was originally intended, thank you.
i think slower envokes more meaning to me ever tonal progression is expressed and borught out more when it is played slowly. It definately is one of my favorites pieces
All the comments on your page here prove that you are right, and the suggestion that you can play with much more emotion in a slow tempo only proofs that some modern players can put more emotion in the piece than what Schumann’s intention was. Anyway, everybody can play in any tempo, but if you are more open and less slow minded, it is amazing how much more beautiful this little piece is in your tempo.
Thank you very much.
Willem Kroesbergen
kick030 2 months ago
Talsma tried to use his half tempo theory for the 17th and 18th century metronomes as well, but if you read the original descriptions it is obvious that Talsma is wrong.
Talsma found out that in his time, baroque music was played much slower then the 18th century metronome markings.
In stead of jumping to the conclusion that we played too slow, he invented the half tempo theory.
kick030 2 months ago
Dear Justin,
Bravo by playing Schumann in the tempo he wrote himself on the autograph!
It sounds wonderful in this tempo, a new world opened when I listened.
I am from the Netherlands and I know everything about Talsma and his half tempo theory, which is completely nonsense.
I made a replica of the first metronome, chronometre by Loulie end of the 17th (!) century, see google.
kick030 2 months ago
Dear Justin, have you ever heard of the half tempo theory, described by Talsma and Gadient? Please listen to my recording of the studies of Burgmuller, opus 100. On youtube you can search for: Burgmüller Gerard van Reenen. Within a short time I hope to post also Album fúr die Jugend of Schumann with metronome marks of his wife Clara.So, the number of quarternote= 100 you must read as 50 and then the piece is a real Träumerei. Like you play it it is not romantic, but contemporary.
GerardvanR 8 months ago
Hm ... it's not bad and your playing is very very well but i prefer the slow version because there is more emotion. I think in a slower tempo you can more enjoy it. Robert Schumann wrote a geniusly Harmonic only for the enjoyment in this song!
Maischi007 10 months ago
way too fast!
marcohorowitz8 10 months ago
Good job! Too fast though, but that's just my opinion. Those metronome markings suggested are often too fast. It seems kind of emotionless. That's just me though. If you feel the piece should be played that way, fair enough.
losinggrip1993 1 year ago
@losinggrip1993 Hola. The metronome marking comes from the composer to give the general tempo intended for the piece. Thanks for your comment.
justinsanner 1 year ago
tempo in music is almost like a signature and conveys a certain feelings.. tempo isnt a variation factor its the soul of the intended piece.. i have heard many play this piece and this is the first time that i actually WAS NOT moved at ALL whatso eva.. it souned like somthin comtply differnt.. it lost all its emotions at this reidiclous tempo.. play much slower and it needs to have a drag at the slower pieces then speed up a bit at the 4 notes or whteva u wana call it.. bad tempo.. no disrespect
Moissawy 1 year ago
hmmm to fast
i0wnDaWorld 2 years ago
this is the original tempo, I think you didnt pay attention to what he said or read the scores haha
Ueberbacker 2 years ago
great playing, but i wonder how a real pianist like you can play with such an extremely synthetic digital sound. i hear every single bit and byte! :)
yapyapyapyapyap 2 years ago
Justinsanner, I agree with you. My copy is marked at 100 for the metronome too. The tempo you play it at sounds much better than the speed you usually hear it played at. I've heard recordings of this piece by professionals that were at snail speed. Does not sound good like that. Good job. Just next time, play it on a grand piano. :)
SonofBrunhilde 2 years ago 5
well done!!!
Ueberbacker 2 years ago
it sounds better if its played the original speed, and slow is how its supposed to go
xoNatalie09xo 2 years ago
Well, this is very interesting. I just set my metronome and played it at both tempos, though not as beautifully as Justin. Played at eighth note at 100 it satisfies my musical memory bank because I have heard it played at this tempo in numerous recordings. Played at quarter note at 100, the piece has a vitality and I believe is more consistent with the tempos and musical quality of the other Kinderszenen pieces. Shall we call it a draw?
musicamusement 2 years ago
Comment removed
BachScholar 2 years ago
From studying this piece, I am rather convinced that the metronome marking of a quarter note at 100 is absolutely correct. In the score there are many phrase indications. There are many 4 note phrases/groups of notes as well as long phrases. When the piece is played at or near the metronome marking one can hear all of these short phrases, long phrases and slurs quite easily. (continued below)
justinsanner 2 years ago
But from my experience of playing the piece at a much slower tempo which I have done on occasion (or at the pace of a slug), it is really very difficult for the listener to know and hear where one phrase ends and the next one begins, especially the 4 note phrases. It just sounds like notes. (continued below)
justinsanner 2 years ago
Also, there are 3 indications for a ritardando in the piece. At the slow slug speed that many people play this piece, how could one put in a noticeable ritardando without coming to a complete stop? So again, I think the indicated metronome marking is correct.
justinsanner 2 years ago
Comment removed
BachScholar 2 years ago
Your approach might work if the score were marked "Affettuoso," or "Espressivo," (for example) at the beginning of the piece, but other than the ritardandos, there are no such tempo changes indicated in the score (and I used the Henle Urtext Edition). Obviously the piece should not sound as though one is playing along with a metronome and then there is artistic license (use of rubato, for example), ---continued below---
justinsanner 2 years ago
but there are no indications in the score that the 4 note phrases should be played at a slower tempo and the longer phrases played at a faster tempo (no markings of Accelerando, for example).
justinsanner 2 years ago
Comment removed
BachScholar 2 years ago
so what is the dream here -
highway racing ?
alexwerefrog 2 years ago
te snel , zo leg je er weinig emotie in . .
wel zéér mooi gespeeld ..
DINALOVESAS 3 years ago
Too fast, Traumerei is a romantic song
Stephanie080162 3 years ago
hi justin!
i think the metronom 100 is not fpr the quater note but for "eight" notes which makes half of your tempo. it was schumann's error. simple explanation. i know that melzels metronom was not liked by the composer that time. or do you think that bethoven op.106 is possible to play in the suggested tempo?
however - i like that you try to do what the composers have written. unfortunately they made errors like anybody else. have good luck and great fun with your studies
klausknulp 3 years ago
Comment removed
BachScholar 2 years ago
Thank you, Justin, for a lovely performance. I enjoy the tempo - it feels more deliberate and energetic. The emotion is carried in the beautiful melody.
musicamusement 3 years ago
Thanks for your comment and for your open-mindedness. Many (most?) people can't conceive of a piece being played anyway than the way they have always heard it played. Some say the metronome marking (a quarter note at 100) for this piece is incorrect. Well then, one would have to start questioning all the metronome markings in this set of pieces, not just the marking for Träumerei. To me, the very, very slowly way most pianists play Träumerei sounds like a practise tempo. It just drags along.
justinsanner 2 years ago
Comment removed
BachScholar 2 years ago
Too fast...
ninourspiano 3 years ago
Nicely played..
Personally I do think that the slower speed brings more emotion and feeling to the piece although some renditions are a touch too slow.
Thanks for posting this though, it was interesting to hear your interpretation.
robmartin07 3 years ago
lOl
Littleprincess1688 3 years ago
im doing a project on him.
hmberrybear 3 years ago
well..the tempora is O.K.!4 some it's better than slowly&I personal,too,like it a little bit slowlier..but all in all:nice to hear.Loviin this piece!!
jenniij2007 4 years ago
Accurate?
Karanphilip 4 years ago
Very nice, although some have suggested that the metronome mark is an early misprint, originally having been a quaver [8th note in American?] rather than a crotchet to 100BPM.
It's certainly interesting to hear it played up tempo, whatever was originally intended, thank you.
regards
aidantaeke 4 years ago
Excuse for her I have I respect but doesn't respect the thought of Schumann, the dynamics and' mistaken the time the same, and the
notes must rigorously be sweets and the legacy!!
I am sorry but she abuses Schumann........I remind her that they are childish pieces and as such must be sweet!!
Regards
vnsn72 4 years ago
i think slower envokes more meaning to me ever tonal progression is expressed and borught out more when it is played slowly. It definately is one of my favorites pieces
burton4eve12 4 years ago
To me, the slower version sounds better
mono1342 4 years ago
I thank you for your accurate performance :)
UNOxDExELLOS 4 years ago