La variation chez Robert Schumann: Forme et évolution
Damien Ehrhardt · HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe) · 1997
Thematic, systematic and historic typologies of the variation from 1765 to 1880 establish a theoretical background to the study of schumannian variation form. Four periods can be definied in its evolution : the first (1828-1832) lies in the wake of the virtuostic variation ; the "fantasie variation" of the second period (1832-1835) shows schumann's tendency towards organic unity, character diversity, emancipation of thematic form, and towards enigmatic conception ; the third period (1835-1853), closely related to the second, presents less contrasted variations ; the fourth (1853-1854) is characterized by thematic proximity. It appears that schumann, contrary to chopin and to early liszt has distanced himself from modern virtuosity, without staying in the beethovian continuity of mendelssohn's variations serieuses and of brahms' variations and fugue on a theme by handel.