I don't like Schumann

[superstition2]

Robert or Clara. I have a Naxos disc of her pieces, and I can't listen to it. The only Schumann I've been able to tolerate is a vocal piece (can't recall the name) and one or two of the scenes from childhood played live by Horowitz in Moscow.

I generally find Schumann's music very grating. I'm not sure why. It doesn't surprise me that he was mentally ill, though, given how annoying the vast majority of his music is to me.

[superstition2]

I found a reference to Glenn Gould:
https://fire.xelium.net/forums/showthread.php?t=55489&page=3

Mr. Gould called him "an inferior musician," continuing with the following...

"Schumann wasn't even a competent pianist, and if it weren't for that clever little wife of his who managed to perform all those dreadfully mediocre compositions of his, we wouldn't know that he ever existed."

I couldn't find that quote with Google, though. It's probably fake.

[sauergrandson]

Yes, of course, Schumann was a mad man but..... Weren't Mahler, Schubert and Beethoven?

[apion]

PC in a minor

[dinosaurtales]

aw man.  I totally can't believe I am looking at this thread.  His harmonies are sometimes (not always) just HOT.  Take his piano quintet for example.  Even though he runs hot and cold with me, there are definitely some neat pieces.

[cherub_rocker1979]

Try the Intermezzo from Faschingsswank aus Wien; it's a gorgeous piece.

[iumonito]

Robert or Clara. I have a Naxos disc of her pieces, and I can't listen to it. The only Schumann I've been able to tolerate is a vocal piece (can't recall the name) and one or two of the scenes from childhood played live by Horowitz in Moscow.

I generally find Schumann's music very grating. I'm not sure why. It doesn't surprise me that he was mentally ill, though, given how annoying the vast majority of his music is to me.

How sad for you.  I am sorry.

Schumann is, of course, the true quintaessential romantic composer.  Be it the sublime intimacy of the slow movement of his second sonata, the paroxism of Carnaval's ending, the trascendence of the Fantasia's finale, the humor of Davidsbundlertanze or the magic of Kresleriana, his music is both passionate and fantastic.

...and in the absence of that little wife of his (ach, one of the greatest pianists of her generation and a fine composer on her own accord) there were this what's his name Brahms guy, what his other name Joachim and, oh, right, Liszt, who thought his music wasn't too shabby either (after all, he did dedicate to Schumann his indisputably best piano work).

pelleezz

[pizno]

Yes, listen to the intermezzo, traumeri, wanderer fantasy, kreisleriana........you will find many sublime moments.

Now Liszt, I'm a little cold when it comes to him.

[cherub_rocker1979]

Yes, listen to the intermezzo, traumeri, wanderer fantasy, kreisleriana........you will find many sublime moments.

Now Liszt, I'm a little cold when it comes to him.

The Wanderer Fantasy is by Schubert not by Schumann.

[arensky]

 He might not like you either... 

[rafant]

I wonder if the headline of this thread shouldn't rather have been "Hey, help me to appreciate Schumann". I prefer to see it in this other way. I suggest you start by reading a thorough biography of the musician. Maybe that you could sympathise with the man first, and then with his music.

[rc]

I wonder if the headline of this thread shouldn't rather have been "Hey, help me to appreciate Schumann". I prefer to see it in this other way. I suggest you start by reading a thorough biography of the musician. Maybe that you could sympathise with the man first, and then with his music.

That's a good attitude to take. For generally accepted music, there must be SOME reason that people can like it so much. Sometimes it takes some time to get into something, but I find that once I'm able to get into a certain style, understand the aesthetic, then the appreciation naturally grows. Doesn't necessarily mean I'll become a fan, sometimes the reason something's popular doesn't really apply to me, but it's still good to know and be open to the possibility.

There've been times where I've really gotten into a country or hip hop tune, and that should not be possible for me .

[cfortunato]

I remember reading that Schumann injured his fingers and lost his ability to play.  Is that accurate?

Clara was obviously a great musician, but some people think she played too fast because she could.  Her metronome marking on her husbands works are often significantly faster that his.

[presto agitato]

I remember reading that Schumann injured his fingers and lost his ability to play.  Is that accurate?

This is one of the greatest myths of musical history.  When Robert Schumann was a teenager he was infected with siphilis via sexual relation. The medications he took caused him the damage in his hand.

"The "Carneval" and the "Fantasiestucke" have interested me excessively. I play them really with delight, and God knows that I can't say as much of many things. To speak frankly and freely, it is absolutely only Chopin's compositions and yours that have a powerful interest for me".

That was written by Liszt to Robert Schumann in 1838.




BTW Gould was an idiot. The more i listen to his recordings the more i hate him.

[I Love Xenakis]

Of Schumann, the only pieces I like are like 1 or 2 movements from Carnaval, Fantasy Pieces Op. 12 and Symphonic Variations.



I personally think he's EXTREMELY overrated.

[mikey6]

This is one of the greatest myths of musical history.  When Robert Schumann was a teenager he was infected with siphilis via sexual relation. The medications he took caused him the damage in his hand.

I thought the story he was invented a machine to strengthen his 4th finger and overused it which damaged his piano playing career.

As for the question, I'm not sure why you posted it becuase you don't ask for help as to how to appreciate his music, it seems as though all you're telling us is you don't like Schumann which is rather pointless to the rest of us.

[mmccarthy]

Side note: If I remember correctly, the Gould comment mentioned can be found early on in Ostwald's book, Glenn Gould: The Ecstasy and Tragedy of Genius. Ostwald respected Schumann and wrote a book about him, too.

After listening to a fair amount of Schumann's works, I can say that I do not like his output, in general. This is more my fault than Schumann's, thogh. For all I know, Schumann might end up my favorite composer five years from now.