Fantasy Pieces Metrical Dissonance in the Music of Robert Schumann

This book presents a theory of metrical conflict and applies it to themusic of Schumann, thereby placing the composer's distinctive metrical style infull focus. It describes the various categories of metrical conflict thatcharacterize Schumann's work, investigates how states of conflict are introducedand then manipulated and resolved in his compositions, and studies theinteraction of such metrical conflict with form, pitch structure, and text.Throughout the text, Krebs intersperses his own theoretical assertions withSchumannesque dialogues between Florestan and Eusebius, who comment on thetheory at hand while also discussing and illustrating relevant aspects of"their" metrical practices.

Harald Krebs is Professor of Music at the University of Victoria.