A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Papillons

PAPILLONS. The name of twelve pianoforte pieces by Schumann, constituting his op. 2, which are dedicated to his sisters-in-law, Theresa, Emilia, and Rosalia Schumann. They were composed at different times-Nos. 1, 3, 4, 6 and 8 in 1829, and the others in 1831. They may be regarded as the germ of the better-known and more highly-developed 'Carneval,' op. 9. The form of the two compositions is the same, but in the earlier work there are no characteristic titles to the several pieces. The subject of No. 1 of the 'Papillons' is referred to in 'Florestan,' No. 6 of the Carneval, and the 'Grossvatertanz' is made use of in the finales of both works. Many theories have been propounded as to the meaning or story of these pieces, and Schumann himself refers it to the last chapter of Jean Paul's 'Flegeljahre,' 'where,' as he says in a letter to Henriette Voigt, 'all is to be found in black and white.' (See Wasielewsky's Life, 3rd ed. p. 328.) It is evident that the idea of a Carnival is already in his mind, for the last few bars of the finale bear the following superscription: 'The noise of the carnival-night dies away. The church clock strikes six.'

[ J. A. F. M. ]