Schumann: Symphonic Etude's

Schumann’s Symphonic etudes are very fascinating for the fact that they are etudes. He also had referred to them as “Etudes in the Form of Variations.” This is more accurate in describing this collection since it is based off of the theme from Ernest Von Fricken’s flute theme and variations. I find the set of pieces particularly interesting since they are etudes, yet they do not contain many musical elements that a standard etude has. There are no long scale passages or arpeggiated patterns. In many etudes, like those of Chopin or Liszt, there is a clear aspect to piano technique that is being focused on. These pieces are not as clear in what the study is actually about. This forms a work that is much more diverse, with an abundance of different characters that Schumann is so good at creating.