für Violine und Klavier. The Romances op. 22 are today among Clara Schumann?s most popular chamber music works. For violinists and pianists, they?re also of particular importance due to the wealth of information by Schumann, Joseph Joachim, and Wilhelm Joseph von Wasielewski on fingering, bowing, and phrasing in these three pieces. While working on the composition and publication of the Romances op. 22, Schumann was in close contact with these two great violinists of the nineteenth century. She consulted Wasielewski while completing an early version of Romance no. 1, while Joachim was involved in a later, complete version and the preparation of the first edition. Jacqueline Ross? scholarly-critical edition is the first to include, in addition to the first edition, the numerous manuscript sources that survive today, such as: Schumann?s draft manuscript, presentation autographs for Wasielewski and Joachim, as well as copyists? parts once owned by the two violinists. This edition has two separate parts for the violin, allowing its use in two ways: first, as a straightforward Urtext edition: and second, as an edition informed by historical performing practice, supported by the detailed Performing Practice Commentary on nineteenth-century violin and piano technique.

The circumstances in which these poetic ?Soirée Pieces? (thus their original title) came into being are quite surprising. In 1849 Dresden was seized by violent political turmoil that ultimately forced Schumann to fleewith Clara to the countryside. Yet none of this is apparent in the music of these three pieces whose idyllic character signifies a longing for harmony and seclusion. Originally conceived for the Clarinet they were accompanied byalternative parts for Violin and Cello as early as the original print. We have subjected our editions to a thoroughgoing critique and include a section of detailed editorial notes.

Dedication-Given renewed interest in the violin arrangements and transcriptions by the great Leopold Auer Universal Edition reprints two of its early publications. Both are taken from Schumann's song cycle Myrthen a series of poem settings expressing his feelings of love companionship and devotion to Clara.