Wichtige Begebenheit, Op. 15 No. 6 (Kinderszenen)
A very important event - probably not that important.
Wichtige Begebenheit ('An Important Event') is the sixth piece in Kinderszenen (Op. 15, 1838), and it is Schumann at his most playfully ironic. The music announces itself with all the pomp of a royal proclamation, and a gently satirical edge suggests that the 'important event' in question may be something very small seen through the enormous eyes of a child.
The piece is built on a march-like dotted rhythm and a bold, declamatory style that contrasts sharply with the dreamy intimacy of the surrounding pieces. Schumann places it exactly at the midpoint of the thirteen-piece set, as if to mark a turning point in the journey - though whether with genuine ceremony or a wink remains delightfully ambiguous.
Own the pomposity.
Play the opening bars at full forte with maximum commitment - no timid announcement will do. Then notice how the quieter passages that follow feel more meaningful because of the contrast. The piece is built on the tension between the grandiose opening and the more nuanced interior; establish the opening boldly first.
Engraving based on the Mutopia Project edition , licensed CC BY 3.0.
MIDI based on the Mutopia Project edition , licensed CC BY 3.0.
Before you practice.
01 What does 'Wichtige Begebenheit' mean and why is the music so grand?
'Wichtige Begebenheit' means 'An Important Event.' Schumann's adult irony is built into the piece: the music is deliberately oversized for whatever childhood event it depicts, mimicking the way children give full ceremonial weight to events that adults barely notice. Playing it grandly is the correct interpretation.
02 What technique does Schumann's Wichtige Begebenheit develop?
The piece builds confident chord playing - producing full, even chords from arm weight rather than finger force - and strong metric projection in 3/4 time. It also develops the ability to maintain a bold, outward-directed sound quality over a sustained sequence of similar textures without the playing becoming rigid.
Dotted rhythm with full weight.
In slow-tempo mode, make sure each dotted note has its full value before the snap of the short note. Use wait-for-note mode to pause before the forte entries and feel the arm weight ready to commit. Loop the transitions between forte and piano - those contrasts are the expressive engine of the piece.
