Carnaval (Schumann)

Carnaval, Op. 9, is a work by Robert Schumann for piano solo, written in 1834–1835 and subtitled Scènes mignonnes sur quatre notes (Little Scenes on Four Notes). It consists of 21 short pieces representing masked revelers at Carnival, a festival before Lent. Schumann gives musical expression to himself, his friends and colleagues, and characters from improvised Italian comedy (commedia dell'arte). He dedicated the work to the violinist Karol Lipiński.

The work depicts Pierrot and Arlequin, two Zanni characters from commedia dell'arte. They were typically depicted as astute servants and tricksters. The Zanni came from the countryside and represented the typical "dispossessed immigrant worker".