Robert Schumann: Piano Music Series II: Piano: Instrumental Album

Edited by Clara Schumann-Dover Publications continues its series of playing editions of musical masterpieces with this selection of Robert Schumann's later compositions for solo piano edited by Clara Schumann. This book has been especially designed as a playing edition - the noteheads are large and easily readable at the piano and the margins and spaces between staves are adequate for written notes fingerings and turnovers. It is also most useful for analysis or simply for listening along with records.

Par SCHUMANN ROBERT. Robert Schumann once described his lieder as a ”mirror image of his self”. This applies particularly to his compositions from Heinrich Heine's 'Buch der Lieder”. What began as a lyrical intermezzo, then developed into 'Dichterliebe”, a work with which Schumann identified the ardour of his love for Clara Wieck. This work still presents an enigma to performers- how Schumann interpretes Heine's irony in his music is often discussed. But one thing is certain: with 'Dichterliebe” the composer created what is perhaps the best-loved and one of the most tightly-woven lieder cycles of the Romantic period. This new edition presents the work based on the first edition. It takes Schumann's autograph score into consideration, an autograph score where there have recently been discussions as to whether it should be presented as an independent alternative version. The four lieder omitted by Schumann from the printed edition are included in the appendix. - High-quality Urtext edition of this well-known song cycle - Appendix includes four lieder by Schumann which he did not include in the original cycle - Comprehensive foreword and critical commentary (Ger/Eng)/ Répertoire / Chant et Piano

Robert Schumann’s Faschingsschwank aus Wien Op. 26 is among the composer’s most popular and most studied piano cycles. Originally conceived as a ‘grand romantic sonata’ the work presents pictures of lively carnival revelry. Based on the musical text of the New Schumann Complete Edition this edition thus represents the current state of Schumann research. The notes on interpretation by Tobias Koch took into account the sound characteristics of the pianoforte and different sources from Schumann’s circle.

Clara Wieck’s sincerest wish was that her future husband Robert Schumann turn his extraordinary genius toward the larger and more challenging task of composing orchestral music. Confiding in her diary in 1839 just one year before her marriage she explained that “it would be best if he composed for Orchestra: his imagination cannot find sufficient scope in the Piano…” In the years that followed their marriage Robert Schumann continued to devote much of his attention to Piano music but he also found the time to comply with his beloved Clara’s wish by creating a number of musical pieces composed specifically for Piano andOrchestra. Although Schumann’s genius is most in evidence in his masterful solo Piano compositions and superb lieder his lively and provocative imagination manifests itself with equal aplomb in the works composed for Piano and Orchestra. The same compelling romantic and lyrical qualities that captivate lovers of Schumann’s Piano music are evident in these compositions. Three of his finest are presented here in full score including the A Minor Piano Concerto one of the most popular and frequently performed concertos ever written. All demonstrate his remarkably innovative approach to music diverting substantially from the classic models of the day and display his immense creativity as well as his warmth and sensitivity. Included in this collection of Schumann’s compositions for Piano and Orchestra are: Piano Concerto In A minor Op. 54 (published 1846) Concertstück Op.92 (Introduction and Allegro appassionato; published 1852) Introduction and Allegro Op. 134 (published 1855) These three works by one of the greatest masters of romanticism will delight musicians music lovers and students as well as devotees of Schumann. Pianists will be especially pleased to have these appealing Schumann works in one convenient edition available at