Papillons

Piano SUITE of 12 pieces by ROBERT SCHUMANN, 1831, published as op.2, descriptive of fleeting butterflies in feminine disguises. Schumann was inspired by the Romantic novel Flegeljahre (Years of Indiscretion) by Jean-Paul Richter.

The sad melody might well reflect Schumann's own youthful indiscretion. It is based on the notes A, E♭, C, and B, spelling, in German nomenclature (where E♭ is Es, i.e., S), the town of Asch where he experienced his first infatuation. He used the same theme in his later Carnaval (1833-35).