Schumann's "Traumerei"

Dave Grafe · Post by **Dave Grafe** » 9 Apr 2013 5:51 pm

I always thought this was one of the sweetest piano compositions ever and struggled mightily to master it at the keyboard, but never thought of trying it with the pedal steel until one day recently when the first few bars popped out spontaneously. I dug out the piano music, sorted out some chord positions and presto, my new favorite solo steel piece, adapted and embellished a bit for the instrument of course. Easier on the steel than on the piano, for me at least...

http://www.pdxaudio.com/traumerei.mp3

I have not attempted to tab this out but here is the original score with my chords noted if someone else has the juice for the job....

Bob Hickish · Post by **Bob Hickish** » 9 Apr 2013 6:16 pm

Dave
My hat’s off to ya ! WOW !

John Alexander · Post by **John Alexander** » 9 Apr 2013 8:29 pm

Very nice. I grew up with this piece, as my dad used to play it on the piano when I was small child, and I now occasionally do the same. I don't know if it is even feasible to transcribe and play it note-for-note on a pedal steel, but without doing that you have brought the spirit of the piece to life in your interpretation, and played it with a degree of expression that Schumann would have approved of. Bravo!

Dave Grafe · Post by **Dave Grafe** » 9 Apr 2013 10:42 pm

Thanks for the kind words, guys. It's true, John, that a note-for-note transcription is not practical on the 10-string pedal steel, mostly because there are not enough low strings to cover all the voices, with a 12-string setup one might be able to do it.

Obviously I have taken some liberties but tried ot remain true to the spirit of one of my all-time favorite compositions, I'm glad it comes through as such to an informed listener outside my own head

Michael Dene · Post by **Michael Dene** » 9 Apr 2013 11:41 pm

Beautiful Dave!

I've been playing Traumerie for years !!! It just seems to fall onto the E9. I love your arrangement .... much "free-er" than mine ... but I Tabbed it out because at my age I'd have to re-arrange it tomorrow if I didn't have the odd memory jog!!!

Michael Dene · Post by **Michael Dene** » 9 Apr 2013 11:50 pm

Tonu Timm · Post by **Tonu Timm** » 10 Apr 2013 12:26 am

Made my day with this:)

Jim Palenscar · Post by **Jim Palenscar** » 10 Apr 2013 6:31 am

Great job Dave!!!

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 10 Apr 2013 6:43 am

Lovely!

David Mason · Post by **David Mason** » 10 Apr 2013 7:16 am

Great playing. The steel is just too fine an instrument NOT to be playing the good stuff.

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 10 Apr 2013 1:40 pm

Very Cool.

This is the kind of thing more players should be doing.

Jan Viljoen · Post by **Jan Viljoen** » 10 Apr 2013 8:59 pm

I agree, as many other steelers would, any kind of music can be played on the pedal steel.

Here is a nice rendition by Doug Livingston of Bach's Bouree on a 12 string GFI extended E9 tuning with a lace Alumitone pickup.

This used to be Gene Fields's personal guitar with an 8 string fretted front neck.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vz_1lC51z0

Sail on!

Clete Ritta · Post by **Clete Ritta** » 10 Apr 2013 9:26 pm

Beautiful playing Dave, thanks for posting that!

Richard Damron · Post by **Richard Damron** » 11 Apr 2013 7:31 am

Dave -

Just gorgeous! I'll echo Mike Perlowin's thought: - a LOT more of this should be done for the steel!

Richard

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 11 Apr 2013 8:26 am

Very nicely done, Dave. You got beautiful country sounds while being faithful to Schumann's original harmonies. That's not easy to do, especially since you don't have bass notes on your 10 string E9 (at least it sound like 10 string E9 to me).

Dave Grafe · Post by **Dave Grafe** » 11 Apr 2013 8:43 am

Yep, Earnest, that's my Emmons D10, and I had to re-arrange the figures at the beginnning of each phrase to compensate for the missing low notes.

This piece is a really nice fit for the standard E9 copedant, and my arrangement can be played with only 3+2, a 5th string lower to Bb is helpful but not necessary...

Daniel Morris · Post by **Daniel Morris** » 11 Apr 2013 6:42 pm

Very nice!
And thanks for the transcription, Michael.
Hope to try more of this when I retire.

Alan Bidmade · Post by **Alan Bidmade** » 12 Apr 2013 3:01 am

Classy! Great playing.

Larry Jamieson · Post by **Larry Jamieson** » 12 Apr 2013 4:29 pm

Beautiful! Very nicely played. We need more people stretching the envelope so that steel guitar does not die out
in the next decade or two since it is no longer used much in
country music. Thanks for the post...

Larry J.

The Steel Guitar Forum

Schumann's "Traumerei"

Schumann's "Traumerei"

Bach-- Bouree.