I have read several articles that criticized Schumann for overusing dotted rhythm. Some even said his obsessive use of this rhythm was a symptom of his mental illness. I must admit that before reading those articles I had never noticed his penchant for using these rhythms, but after reading the articles I began to notice this use a lot more. For example, the second movement of his Fantasie (one of my all time favorite pieces) uses dotted rhythm A LOT as does the finale of his Symphonic Etudes. Do you think that Schumann's use of dotted rhythm is really obsessive? Do you think that his use of this rhythm is a compositional weakness??

I have also read comments about this aspect of Schumann's composition. While it may be obsessive, I don't thinks it's a weakness--anymore than his careful notation of inner voices, which most contemporary pianist ignore. The most vociferous criticism I have seen of Schumann have been by Phillipe Entremont, who also said in the same interview that Scriabin's music was "sick" and that it wouldn't hurt to drop a few notes from Prokofiev's more difficult Piano Sonatas!

Schumann's music works for me, dotted rhythms, inner voices, and all.

I don't know what the big deal is. I like dotted rhythem. It can really make a piece interesting, and I don't think that accusing someone of over useing it makes their work any less beautiful and most certainly not weak.

[ February 23, 2002: Message edited by: jgoo ]