Schumann

[chopin2015]

Which Schumann pieces do you play? Which ones do you like?

[j_menz]

I'm looking forward to enrique fessing up in this one. 

I play Sonata 2, Kreisleriana, Papillions, Kinderszenen, Davidsbundlertanze, Blumenstucke and a few others. I've now got the full solo collection and will be getting to them once Alkan gives me a minute's peace.

[49410enrique]

i still haven't yet ever played anything by bobby, but i am slowly warming up, i can listen to things in full (sometimes), i don't know if it counts but my two 'favorites' so far are a piece by a composer other than bobby based on one of his themes, and a composition by bobby based on another composers theme. but i think it's a step in the right direction. and his wife was pretty hot, so he couldn't have been too much of  bore.

im rather enjoying reading along w these at the momment

PS i will post later in the purchases thread, i got a big pile of old books from an estate sale of a well respected piano professor at a music school somewhat nearby, i think there was a really nice old durand edition of something by our guy but i can't remember right now (will sort it all and get  a list together for the post).

[j_menz]

and his wife was pretty hot, so he couldn't have been too much of  bore.

Depends on your take on the whole Brahms thing.  

Also, you made me realise that I just assumed OP meant Bobby. Maybe he meant Clara?

I've got her complete solo works too, but again only glanced through them.  My impression is that she was a better pianist than composer, but there may be some gems I'm missing.

EDIT: Ooops, "she meant"; I do know that!!! 

[49410enrique]

Depends on your take on the whole Brahms thing.  

Also, you made me realise that I just assumed OP meant Bobby. Maybe he meant Clara?

I've got her complete solo works too, but again only glanced through them.  My impression is that she was a better pianist than composer, but there may be some gems I'm missing.

i do wonder what sorts of hanky panky went on while bobby lost his mind....

as for clara, i do like her chamber music

i think her concerto is interesting, ive been needing to listen to the prelude and fugue (or plural, i need to see  how many she actually did).
edit.-found it op 16 has three sets so i'll be giving those a listen soon too

[chopin2015]

Great! Thanks, yall! I do like Clara, but right now I am looking at working on Fantasy piece op. 12, I believe it is by Robert. I am looking at working on it a little later though. Just started Chopin op 25 no 5. Too much Chopin for this girl at the moment.

[j_menz]

Great! Thanks, yall! I do like Clara, but right now I am looking at working on Fantasy piece op. 12, I believe it is by Robert. 

Interestingly, the Fantasiestucke is dedicated to a rather young and pretty girl with whom Bobby was having an affair whilst waiting for Clara to get old enough to marry him without her father's permission.

[hfmadopter]

i still haven't yet ever played anything by bobby, but i am slowly warming up, i can listen to things in full (sometimes), i don't know if it counts but my two 'favorites' so far are a piece by a composer other than bobby based on one of his themes, and a composition by bobby based on another composers theme. but i think it's a step in the right direction. and his wife was pretty hot, so he couldn't have been too much of  bore.

To me the essence of Schumman is his Papillion. I have always loved that piece, am working on it in small bits, as I have other work I am doing currently. Maybe dig that one out, I think you can find it under Schummans works right here at PS. See what you think. When I was younger I used to sit and listen to a recording of that piece and get goose bumps from it ( but that happens a lot with me anyway). Who ever the pianst was , it was very good.

[chopin2015]

Interestingly, the Fantasiestucke is dedicated to a rather young and pretty girl with whom Bobby was having an affair whilst waiting for Clara to get old enough to marry him without her father's permission.

That is very entertaining, indeed! Thanks, j_menz!

[49410enrique]

[j_menz]

Happy Birthday, Clara. Only 7 years to her Bicentennary! Must get some of her stuff under my belt by then. I smell a new project on the horizon!

Oh, and enrique; your fascination with pretty young things of the 19th century.........hmmmm. 

[49410enrique]

Oh, and enrique; your fascination with pretty young things of the 19th century.........hmmmm. 

[chopin2015]

Haha Happy birthday, Clara! There's a google thing for you.

[zezhyrule]

Haha Happy birthday, Clara! There's a google thing for you.

Debussy didn't get one for his 150th... But apparently Clara's 193rd is much more important. Somehow?

[j_menz]

Debussy didn't get one for his 150th... But apparently Clara's 193rd is much more important. Somehow?

Clara was always much better connected than poor old Claude.  And much more dangerous to cross.

[williampiano]

Aufschwung from Fantasiestucke has always been one of my all time favorites to play for people! It's pretty impressive sounding and a good showman's pieces, so when I play for friends and stuff, its usually one of my first choices.

His Sonata op. 11 is pretty awesome too! I always find it enjoyable to listen to, so that would be cool to learn it one day.

[49410enrique]

Debussy didn't get one for his 150th... But apparently Clara's 193rd is much more important. Somehow?

i think clara is cute, debussy, has plenty of blogs and other interweb happenings and recitals and what not already dedicated to his festivities. it was more a homage to the hot chick rather than a strike against claude. at least that's how i meant it.

[beethoven_fan]

My favourite Schumann set is Bunte Blätter (opus 99). Here are my favorites :

Opus 99 no 1 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mk7XYYQORz0
Opus 99 no 2 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9Qga4CrXOI
Opus 99 no 4 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmWsyqz4c28
Opus 99 no 5 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saMYWGKDkk4
Opus 99 no 9 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yf7m5mJKWSU
Opus 99 no 10 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tujRj4gTLYQ

[chopin2015]

i think clara is cute, debussy, has plenty of blogs and other interweb happenings and recitals and what not already dedicated to his festivities. it was more a homage to the hot chick rather than a strike against claude. at least that's how i meant it.

I completely agree... did clara write etudes?

[49410enrique]

did clara write etudes?

i don't think so, at least none we 'know' of that were published. she did edit bobby's 6 paganini etudes i mentioned upstairs though.

here's a basic list of her compositions
Works
 
Clara Schumann's published works are listed below by date of publication. Twenty-five additional unpublished or lost works may be found in Reich, Nancy B., Clara Schumann, The Artist and The Woman, appendix.
 1831· Quatre Polonaises pour le pianoforte, Op. 1.
 1832· 9 Caprices en forme de valse pour le piano, Op. 2. Dedicated to Madame Henriette Foerster, née Weicke.
 1833· Romance variée pour le piano, Op. 3 (C major). Dedicated to Monsieur Robert Schumann.
 1834· Walzer fűr Gesang und Klavier. Song with text by Johann Peter Lyser. Published in collection Lyser's Liedersammlung.
 1835· Valses romantiques pour le piano, Op. 4. Dedicated to Madame Emma Eggers née Garlichs. The Valses were orchestrated but none of the instrumental parts survive.
 1835· Quatre pieces caractéristiques, Op. 5 (1. Le Sabbat; 2. Caprice ŕ la Boléro; 3. Romance: 4. Ballet des Revenants). Dedicated to Mademoiselle Sophie Kaskel.
 1836· 6 Soirées musicales, Op. 6 (1. Toccatina in A minor; 2. Nocturne in F Major; 3. Mazurka in G minor; 4. Ballade in D minor; 5. Mazurka in G major; 6. Polonaise in A minor). Dedicated to Madame Henriette Voigt.
 1836· Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 7: Premier concert pour le piano-forte avec accompagnement d'orchestre (ou de quintour). (1 Allegro maestoso; 2 Romanze. Andante non troppo con grazia; 3 Finale. Allegro non troppo; allegro molto). Dedicated to Monsieur Louis Spohr. A draft exists of the last movement, orchestrated by Robert Schumann and in Schumann's hand.
 1837· Variations de concert pour le pianoforte, sur la Cavatine du Pirate, de Bellini, Op. 8. Dedicated to Monsieur Adolph Henselt.
 1838· Impromptu in G major. Souvenir de Vienne.
 1839· Scherzo No. 1 in D minor, Op. 10.
 1840· Trois Romances pour le pianoforte, Op. 11 (1. E-flat minor, Andante; 2. G minor. Andante; 3. A major, Moderato). Dedicated to Monsieur Robert Schumann.
 1841· Am Strande. Song with text by Robert Burns. Published in Neue Zeitung für Musik, July 1841.
 1841· 3 songs: Zwőlf Gedichte aus F. Rűckert's Liebesfrűling fűr Gesang und pianoforte von Robert und Clara Schumann, Op. 12: 2. Er ist gekommen in Sturm und Regen; 4. Liebst du um Schönheit; 11. Warum willst du and’re Fragen? (these were published as part of Robert Schumann's Gedichte aus Liebesfrühling, Op. 37)
 1841· Die gute Nacht, die ich dir sage.
 1842· Piano Sonata in G minor (1. Allegro; 2. Adagio con espressione e ben legato; 3. Scherzo; Trio; 4 Rondo).
 1843· 6 songs: Sechs lieder mit begleitung des pianoforte, Op. 13: 1. Ihr Bildnis. Ich stand in dunklen Träumen; 2. Sie liebten sich beide; 3. Liebeszauber; 4. Der Mond kommt still gegangen; 5. Ich hab’in deinem Auge; 6. Die stille Lotusblume. Dedicated to Queen Caroline Amalie of Denmark.
 1843· O weh des Scheidens, das er tat.
 1844· Impromptu in E major (published in Album du gaulois, 1885), Sechs Lieder Op. 13: 1. Ich stand in drunklen Traumen; 2. Sie liebten sich beide; 3. Liebeszauber; 4. Der Mond kommt still gegangen; 5. Ich hab' in deinem Augen; 6. Die stille lotusblume.
 1845· Scherzo No. 2 in C minor, Op. 14: Deuxičme scherzo pour le pianoforte, Op. 14. Dedicated to Madame Tutein née Siboni.
 1845· Quatre pičces fugitives, Op. 15 (1. F major, Larghetto; 2. A minor, In poco agitato; 3. D major, Andante espressivo; 4. G major, Scherzo). Dedicated to Marie Wieck. Scherzo originally composed for unpublished Sonatine.
 1845· 3 Preludes and Fugues: III Praeludien und fugen für das pianoforte, Op. 16: (1. B flat major; 2. B flat major; 3. D minor).
 1847· Piano Trio in G minor: Trio fur pianoforte, violine und violoncello, Op. 17: (1. Allegro moderato; 2. Scherzo. Tempo di menuetto; 3. Andante; 4. Allegretto). Some emendations on autograph seem to be by Robert Schumann.
 1848· Mein Stern ("O du mein Stern"). Song with text by Friederike Serre.
 1854· Variations on a Theme of Robert Schumann: Variationen für das pianoforte über ein thema von Robert Schumann, Op. 20. Dedicated to Robert Schumann.
 1855· Drei romanzen für pianoforte, Op. 21. Dedicated to Johannes Brahms.
 1855· Drei romanzen für pianoforte und violine, Op. 22. Dedicated to Joseph Joachim.
 1855· Sechs lieder aus jucunde von Hermann Rollet, Op. 23 (1. Was weinst du, Blümein?; 2. An einem lichten Morgen; 3. Geheimes Flüstern; 4. Auf einem grünem Hügel; 5. Das ist ein tag; 6. O lust, O lust. Dedicated to Livia Frege.
 1885· Impromptu. Published in Album du Galois.
 1870· Cadenzas (2) for Beethoven Piano Concerto in G Major, op. 58.
 1870· Cadenzas for Beethoven Piano Concerto in C Minor, op. 37.
 1891· Cadenzas (2) for Mozart Piano Concerto in D Minor (K. 466).

[chopin2015]

Well then. No etudes? Why does Clara get a google thingy and Debussy doesn't?? Obviously because she is(was) a hot lady regardless of her achievements. I had a nice time listening to classical radio on Debussy's birthday. It was like the same old city was being painted different colors while I was driving to the same old piano lesson.

[werq34ac]

No one's mentioned the Fantasie Op. 17 or Humeresque Op. 21 (I think). Both are amazing! I think I like Horowitz's playing of them the best.


And surprised no one's mentioned the piano concerto, I love that piece!

[m1469]

Don't you DARE talk about Schumann like that!!!  



Evah


Evah



EVAH ...





AGAIN! 

[chopin2015]

me???

[j_menz]

Don't you DARE talk about Schumann like that!!!  

Umm, who???

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Don't you DARE talk about Schumann like that!!!  



Evah


Evah



EVAH ...





AGAIN! 

I'm surprised that you didn't rage at me for flaming Glen Goulds humming.

[m1469]

Well, it was just a long time coming, building up over time ... years, really  :-.  Maybe even more than a lifetime or so.  It finally just burst on out.  I'll probably rage at you for Gould's humming in a few years or so... don't you worry about that.

[chopin2015]

What exactly offended you?

[m1469]

Well, first of all, people do not understand him.  They treat him like he is on the outskirts of musicianship, and that's not true!  Yes, he ended up in a situation that people don't envy, but he was a beautiful, beautiful man and person with a gorgeous mind!  He was a good father and a loving husband!  He had a certain brilliance to him that is hard for us to imagine from this perspective and there is so much in his music!  I just see his name and think about all the things people say about him and it makes me sad  .  

[chopin2015]

 We adore and appreciate his music. I know what you mean. I always wondered why in their repertoire, people made it a point to say Schumann:nothing.
So rude!
 But just like many many pieces, I wish I could just skip parts or skip the repeats. The only music I have not felt this way about much, is Impressionism.

[starstruck5]

Robert Alexander Schumann -where did the name Alexander come from -I know his parents -but it isn't very German -??? 

No matter what anyone says about Schumann, his music will live on -as long as there humans with emotions -he was very good at passion -love his music or hate it -I am somewhere in the middle -

[redbaron]

I've listened to his piano music many times and I still don't get it. The only pieces I like are the first movement of the concerto, the Toccata and the Eintritt from Waldszenen. I can't say I care much for his keyboard style either, the few pieces of his that I've gotten to grips with have felt awkward, very uncomfortable and not very pianistic. It's kind of like Brahms but without the desire to want to play it.

[landru]

When I was 14-16 years old I was partially Schumann and it was really tricky.

Were you Florestan or Eusebius?

[redbaron]

Were you Florestan or Eusebius?

More to the point, were you sectioned?

[stoudemirestat]

I don't understand the animosity towards Schumann on this forum. It is almost exclusive to this forum. He is one of the greats and his piano music among his best music, along with his lieder.

[landru]

I don't understand the animosity towards Schumann on this forum. It is almost exclusive to this forum. He is one of the greats and his piano music among his best music, along with his lieder.

I don't agree with the animosity either, but I definitely can understand where it comes from. redbaron said it best a few posts ago:

"I can't say I care much for his keyboard style either, the few pieces of his that I've gotten to grips with have felt awkward, very uncomfortable and not very pianistic."

It probably is a case where the amount of effort expended vs. the outcome is in the wrong ratio. His almost rococo style takes some getting used to and certainly can't be to everyone's taste.

[redbaron]

I don't understand the animosity towards Schumann on this forum. It is almost exclusive to this forum. He is one of the greats and his piano music among his best music, along with his lieder.

I don't feel any animosity towards him, I just don't share what many people feel about his music. I have tried many times but it just doesn't do it for me. I have to admit I am quite annoyed about this; a huge body of piano music which general opinion says is of consistently high quality and yet I can't enjoy it...

[chopin2015]

what about Clara? She's hott!

[m1469]

I hate it, make it stop  .  

[j_menz]

I've listened to his piano music many times and I still don't get it. .... I can't say I care much for his keyboard style either, the few pieces of his that I've gotten to grips with have felt awkward, very uncomfortable and not very pianistic.

I have to say, my experience is quite different. I did initially find this, but his music grew on me, and as it did he felt much more natural at the keyboard.  It now feels perfectly at home there.

[chopin2015]

I have to say, my experience is quite different. I did initially find this, but his music grew on me, and as it did he felt much more natural at the keyboard.  It now feels perfectly at home there.

yes, actually...some of his stuff is quite friendly!