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Welcome to the ROBERT SCHUMANN
COMPOSITION NOTES Page of
aMUSIClassical Directory
Our Classical Music website
for good music lovers.
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Brief synopsis' of the most popular classical music by
German, Zwickau, 8 JUN 1810 ~ nr Bonn, 29 JUL 1856
4 Symphonies, 1 Opera, Overtures, Chamber Works
Many Piano Works, Songs and Choral Pieces.
- Schumann Carnival
1835. A collection of piano pieces adapting Jean Paul Prenter's use of contrasting
characters depicting different sides of human nature...with the symbolism of
masks and dances.
- Schumann Concerto for Cello and Orchestra in a
- Schumann Davidsbundlertanze
Davidsbuendlertaenze
"Dances of the League of David".
- Schumann
Kinderscenen Op 15
Pianist Vladimir Horowitz considered this one of his favorite works. He
said each piece was perfect in poetic expression. Schumann composed the
work in 1838 for his fiancee Clara Wiek. He told her the cycle of youthful
miniatures were peaceful, tender and happy...as he expected his future
with her to be. The pieces were inspired by a child's sense of wonder.
Musorgsky also wrote a children's song cycle called 'The Nursery' and
Debussy a 'Children's Corner Suite' and 'Mother Goose Suite' by Ravel.
Schumann also wrote his 'Album for the Young' a large group of simple
piano pieces for young people to play.
- Schumann 'Manfred'
- Schumann PC in a
Schumann wrote many pieces for solo piano, but only one concerto. The date
of composition of Robert Schumann's 'Concerto in a, for Piano and
Orch', is given as 1845, but the first MMT of this work was actually
written four years earlier as an independent composition for piano and
orchestra. At that time, the work had the simple title of 'Fantasie'. For
this reason the first MMT of this concerto is actually a fantasia in
structure. He was 34 years old when it was finished. It was dedicated
to his wife Clara shortly after their marriage in 1841. She premiered
the work as soloist on Dec 4th 1845.
- Schumann Symphony No 1
Spring
This bright symphony was composed in about four days in January 1841 and
orchestrated in February. FP March 31 at the Leipzig Gewandhaus under
Mendelssohn. There were some small revisions and the work was finalized in
1853. It is Schumann's musical portrait of Spring.
- Schumann Sym No 2
- Schumann Sym
No 3
Robert Schumann started his Rhenish Symphony on November 2, 1850,
finishing this third symphony on December 9th. The Rhine River in the
subtitle, was the inspiration... reflecting the Rhine and it's people.
Included are German songs and the stately 4th movement of this five mmt
work is known as the "cathedral scene". The composer conducted the first
performance on February 6th 1851 in Dusseldorf.
- Schumann Sym
No 4
Actually the second effort at a symphony. It was written in 1841 but he
set it aside and named his next symphony, the one in C major, as the
second. Then in 1851 he re-orchestrated the Sym in d and called it the
fourth. He preferred the 1851 version and withdrew earlier versions.
- Schumann Toccata, Op 7
Very percussive piano piece. Very demanding of the pianist. In fact both
Arrau and Kempff excluded it from their recordings of most of Schumann's
solo piano works. Sviatoslav Rhichter has recorded it.
- Schumann Traumerei (Dreaming)
Reverie or relaxing daydreaming. Well known work from "Scenes from
Childhood", a collection of piano pieces. See: Kinderscenen.
- Schumann
Waldscenen (VALD See nin)
'Forest Scenes', Op 82, dates from 1848. Critic panned the work on first
hearing. They said it had a smoothness unlike the brilliance of his
earlier works for piano. Perhaps a turn to intimacy..from the grand
concert pieces.
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