Papillons
Encyclopedia
Papillons, Op.
2, is a suite of piano pieces written in 1831 by Robert Schumann
. Meaning 'butterflies', Papillons is meant to represent a masked ball and was inspired by the novel Flegeljahre by Jean Paul
.
The suite begins with a six-measure introduction before launching into a variety of dance-like movements. Each movement is unrelated to the preceding ones, except for the finale, in which the theme of the first movement returns. This movement starts out by quoting
the theme of the traditional Grossvater Tanz
(Grandfather's Dance), which was always played at the end of a wedding or similar celebration.
Schumann quoted some themes from Papillons in his later work, Carnaval
, Op. 9, but none of them appear in the section of that work titled "Papillons". The main waltz theme from the first movement in Papillons was quoted in the section "Florestan", with an explicit acknowledgment written in the score, and again in the final section, "Marche des Davidsbündler contre les Philistins", but without acknowledgment. The Grandfather Dance also appears in the final section, with the inscription "Thème du XVIIème siècle".
Opus number
An Opus number , pl. opera and opuses, abbreviated, sing. Op. and pl. Opp. refers to a number generally assigned by composers to an individual composition or set of compositions on publication, to help identify their works...
2, is a suite of piano pieces written in 1831 by Robert Schumann
Robert Schumann
Robert Schumann, sometimes known as Robert Alexander Schumann, was a German composer, aesthete and influential music critic. He is regarded as one of the greatest and most representative composers of the Romantic era....
. Meaning 'butterflies', Papillons is meant to represent a masked ball and was inspired by the novel Flegeljahre by Jean Paul
Jean Paul
Jean Paul , born Johann Paul Friedrich Richter, was a German Romantic writer, best known for his humorous novels and stories.-Life and work:...
.
The suite begins with a six-measure introduction before launching into a variety of dance-like movements. Each movement is unrelated to the preceding ones, except for the finale, in which the theme of the first movement returns. This movement starts out by quoting
Musical quotation
Musical quotation is the practice of directly quoting another work in a new composition. The quotation may be from the same composer's work , or from a different composer's work ....
the theme of the traditional Grossvater Tanz
Grossvater Tanz
The Grossvater Tanz is a German dance tune from the 17th century. It is generally considered a traditional folk tune...
(Grandfather's Dance), which was always played at the end of a wedding or similar celebration.
Schumann quoted some themes from Papillons in his later work, Carnaval
Carnaval (Schumann)
Carnaval, Op. 9, is a work by Robert Schumann for piano solo, written in 1834-1835, and subtitled Scènes mignonnes sur quatre notes . It consists of a collection of short pieces representing masked revelers at Carnival, a festival before Lent...
, Op. 9, but none of them appear in the section of that work titled "Papillons". The main waltz theme from the first movement in Papillons was quoted in the section "Florestan", with an explicit acknowledgment written in the score, and again in the final section, "Marche des Davidsbündler contre les Philistins", but without acknowledgment. The Grandfather Dance also appears in the final section, with the inscription "Thème du XVIIème siècle".