Author : Robert Schumann

Description

Author : Dietrich Buxtehude, Robert Schumann, Johannes Brahms

Description

The F. A. E. Sonata represents a remarkable collaborative effort characterized by its distinctive title and concept. In late October 1853, Robert Schumann, Albert Dietrich, and Johannes Brahms surprised their friend, violinist Joseph Joachim, during his visit to Düsseldorf for concerts. The title's three letters correspond to Joachim's life motto, "Frei, aber einsam," meaning "free, but lonely," and the notes f-a-e, derived from this motto, subtly permeate the sonata. Dietrich crafted the first movement, while the youthful Brahms contributed the dynamic Scherzo (WoO 2). The romantic and lush second and fourth movements are unmistakably Schumann's, who later incorporated them into his own third Violin Sonata in A minor. The F. A. E. Sonata remained unpublished throughout the lives of its composers and dedicatee, with its first publication occurring in 1935. The current Henle edition by Michael Struck, part of the "Violin Sonatas" volume in the New Brahms Complete Edition, offers significant insights into challenging passages within the musical text as well as the work's origins and reception history.

Author : Franz Liszt, Robert Schumann

Description

In his virtuosic piano arrangement of Schumann's "Widmung," Franz Liszt transformed the intimate song into a dramatic declaration. The piece reaches a powerful climax at the phrase "Mein guter Geist, mein bess'res Ich," with chords to be played con somma passione. Liszt's autograph overlays the melody with the song text, but he changed the title to "Liebeslied." The first published edition, released in Leipzig in 1848, retained this heading, and the work is still known by both titles today. In collaboration with Liszt scholar Mária Eckhardt, we present this best-known of Liszt's Schumann arrangements in a reliable Henle Urtext quality edition.

Author : Robert Schumann

Tags : Vocal Low

Description

The Kerner Cycle op. 35, written in 1840 during Schumann's "Liederjahr", holds a special place among his song cycles. Composed immediately following his marriage to Clara Wieck, the cycle contains intimate musical innuendos. Schumann set a series of poems to music in November, during a "quiet week, which went by with composing and much loving and kissing", and the cycle was complete by the end of the year. The first edition of 1841 was soon followed by a second issue, and many of the songs were published individually, with the "Wanderlied" becoming a core piece in the repertoire.

Author : Robert Schumann

Tags : Vocal Medium

Description

Henle's new Urtext edition, prepared by Schumann specialist Kazuko Ozawa, now makes the cycle available to singers in a lower register, with the songs transposed for medium and low voice in close collaboration with experienced pianist and Lied accompanist Jan Philip Schulze.

Author : Robert Schumann

Description

After Schumann became the musical director of the Düsseldorf Music Society, his circumstances grew increasingly difficult. Despite some initial successes, he faced mounting resistance from authorities, musicians, and the public. In response, he dedicated himself even more intensively to composing new works at home. As Clara Schumann wrote in her diary in September 1851, "R. has composed three piano pieces of a very serious, passionate character, which greatly please me." Our revised edition of these "Fantasy Pieces," which share a certain affinity with the Romances op. 28, now includes an informative preface.

Author : Robert Schumann

Description

Schumann's "Album for the Young" op. 68 was a resounding success, which naturally led him to compose more works with an educational aim. This was part of a broader contemporary trend, and his own children provided him with many ideas.

Author : Robert Schumann

Description

In 1839, Robert Schumann gifted Clara Schumann three Romances as a Christmas present. As his bride, Clara claimed that Robert must dedicate something further to her, and she considered the middle Romance to be the most beautiful love duet. However, Robert did not believe the Romances were "good or worthy enough" of Clara. Despite his initial reservations, Robert later counted the Romances among his most successful works, with the middle Romance being one of his most beautiful and melodic compositions. This Urtext edition has been revised to incorporate the latest scholarly research and now includes an extensive critical report.

Author : Robert Schumann

Description