Träumerei (Kinderszenen Op. 15 No. 7)

Robert Schumann · Level 4 (Intermediate) · Romantic · Piano

Träumerei, the most famous of the Scenes from Childhood: the same rising phrase returns again and again, harmonised differently each time. From Scenes from Childhood Op. 15 (1838), thirteen memories of childhood seen through adult eyes. F major, 4/4, 25 bars (about 2 minutes), complete score.

▶ Play this piece with the interactive score

How to practise it

• Listen first: the site plays it while the score scrolls.
• Wait mode: the score waits for you at every note, at your own pace.
• Tempo challenge: play in time, with a score and a map of the bars you got right.
• The two grace notes (acciaccaturas) of the source are not written here. Listen to the inner voices crossing the melody and really slow down at the fermatas. Bring out the top voice and breathe with the phrases, without rushing. The piece starts with a pickup: count the incomplete bar before coming in. One hand sometimes plays two voices: hold the long notes for their full value and let the main line sing louder than the accompaniment.

More pieces by Robert Schumann

• Siciliano (Album for the Young Op. 68 No. 11)
• May, Dear May, Soon You’ll Be Here Again! (Album for the Young Op. 68 No. 13)
• Untitled piece “* * *” (Album for the Young Op. 68 No. 26)
• Italian Sailors’ Song (Album for the Young Op. 68 No. 36)
• A Curious Story (Kinderszenen Op. 15 No. 2)
• Blind Man’s Buff (Kinderszenen Op. 15 No. 3)
• Happy Enough (Kinderszenen Op. 15 No. 5)
• An Important Event (Kinderszenen Op. 15 No. 6)

Source : Mutopia Project · Public Domain