Description
The year 1840 marked Schumann's renowned "year of song," resulting in the creation of more than 100 lieder. They featured Myrthen op. 25, which he devoted “to his beloved wife,” Clara Wieck-Schumann. In addition to well-known pieces like “Widmung,” “Lotosblume,” and “Nussbaum” set to the words of German poets, the collection also features Schumann exploring new territories, such as the Scottish Highlands with settings of Robert Burns and Italy with the “Venetian Songs” of Thomas Moore. Schumann expert Kazuko Ozawa has analyzed the original edition from 1840 and all related manuscript sources. Within the dedicatory signed copies, she has additionally found intriguing early renditions of certain songs, which are published here in an appendix. The medium voice edition showcased here was developed in partnership with the skilled pianist and Lied accompanist Jan Philip Schulze, aiming to make the renowned cycle available to a broader audience of singers.