Robert Schumann ： Album fur die Jugend Winterzeit II in c-moll C-Dur Op.68-38b

This short piece from Schumann’s Album for the Young takes winter as its subject. The contrast between the firm sonority of C minor and the bright color of C major forms one of the work’s central attractions. Within its concise span, listeners can enjoy the changing moods brought about by the shifts in tonality. In performance, keep the voices together while allowing the melody to remain clear, and control the weight of the sound to preserve transparency. In the softer passages, aim for a delicacy suggestive of winter’s stillness; in the brighter sections, bring out a light, graceful breath. Maintaining the flow of the beat without rushing allows the simple musical idea to come vividly to life.