Arabeske in C Major

Melodies ripple like concentric circles formed by throwing stones into a lake in Arabeske, a compact piece for solo piano by Robert Schumann. But at the time of the work's composition in 1839, the waters in the German composer's life were far from still. Schumann was living apart from Clara Wieck, the pianist/composer whom he would marry the following year, and his music during this period is imbued with tenderness and melancholy. Structurally, Arabeske is fragmented, with multiple sections and a score that is uncluttered by musical direction—a style that was unusual for the time. Set in the sunny and simplistic key of C major— using the white keys on the piano—the music gains in complexity as interior themes weave in and out of the upper parts, echoing earlier motifs. Schumann adds a short postscript to the romantic reverie; a deliciously thoughtful addendum that, despite having little in common with the main piece, fits like a glove.