"Variations on a Theme" by Robert Schumann; Clara Schumann 1853

Already by listening to the works of Hildegarde von Bingen, Barbara Strozzi and Clara Schumann one can clearly see how music changed and transgressed. The tones, instruments and style are complete stylistic opposites. In "Variations on a Theme," Schumann uses a single piano as her instrumental medium. She also divides the song into multiple sections that each typically last a minute. I noticed that for the first three sections there was a growing intensity in each section. This feeling of intensity was created by using a wider range and volume than the preceding section. The style of each section also changed. With the first, it is mainly played in chords and with a slow and smooth texture. Yet with the next section, more arpeggios and scales are introduced. This continues until we come to the third section where Schumann has the pianist covering the piano with two independent sounding treble and bass clefs. This flow of going from soft and demure to loud and bold sounds continue throughout the piece and set up a tidal feeling to the song, as if the music is the subsiding and rising tide.

Clara Schumann was a provocative woman for the time. Author's Jane Bowers and Judith Tick wrote, "Clara Schumann was unique among the women of her time. She thought of herself as an artist first and as a woman and mother second." (Women Making Music 257) While Schumann composed her own masterpieces it is a fact that her father was the central reason for how she became the great musician that she was. He devoted extensive training and money into her career- taking her traveling, buying her gifts and supporting her years of training and performing. Yet even with the male influence, Schumann gave women's music a face and empowered all women to break societal normality's by living her own life and performing whilst very pregnant. The way she composed her music and her life lead to her musical success then and now.