Schumann Primary Facts

• Clara Schumann (1819 - 1896)
• Piano Trio in G minor, Op 17
• Completed in 1846. Written for violin, cello and piano – the most orthodox (usual) combination of three instruments in chamber music.
• The full trio has four movements (like many sonatas and symphonies of the period). The overall structure is generally: opening movement in classical sonata form; slow movement; dance or scherzo movement; final movement in rondo or sonata rondo form or theme and variations.
• As a female composer Schumann was, for the time, a rara avis (a rare bird!). She was a wife, mother (of eight children – four of whom predeceased her) and concert pianist too!
• She composed over 300 works including songs, piano pieces, chamber music, choral works and some larger scale instrumental works such as the Piano Concerto in A minor, Op 7 (1841) and the Violin Sonata No 1 in A minor, Op 105 (1853).
• CS’s husband Robert Schumann died in 1856. After his death she continued to perform as a soloist but also began composing again. Her first composition since their marriage had been the Piano Quintet in E flat major, Op 4 (composed between 1838 and 1840), which was dedicated to RS. It was published by Breitkopf & Härtel in Leipzig in 1842.
• Schumann’s husband Robert wrote that she had ‘the gift of melody to an extraordinary degree’. Her melodic gifts are evident throughout this work but particularly so in the second movement where there is a lyrical quality which is reminiscent of Chopin.
• In 1853 CS gave up performing altogether because of ill health. In 1854 she moved with her family from Düsseldorf to Frankfurt am Main where they lived until 1860 when they returned to Düsseldorf. From then onwards she devoted herself entirely to teaching and composing.
• The trio is a form of chamber music. This is music designed to be performed in smaller rooms or salons (a more intimate setting than the concert hall); often played by amateurs so technically less demanding; each instrument plays material of equal interest and virtuosity.
• It consists of four movements: Allegro vivace, Andante espressivo, Scherzo: Presto, Finale: Vivace ma non troppo.
• Schumann wrote music that nearly always included her own instrument, the piano. Solo pieces, lieder (German songs), chamber music and a piano concerto (solo piano and symphony orchestra).
• The opening movement is in sonata form: three sections –

  • Exposition
  • Development
  • Recapitulation.

  Musical argument centres on the presentation of two contrasted themes.
• The key scheme for sonata form is:

  MAJOR –

  • Exposition: 1st subject in tonic, 2nd subject in dominant;
  • Development: both subjects explored in a range of keys;
  • Recapitulation: 1st subject in tonic, 2nd subject also in tonic.

  MINOR –

  • Exposition: 1st subject in tonic, 2nd subject in relative major;
  • Development: both subjects explored in a range of keys;
  • Recapitulation: 1st subject in tonic, 2nd subject in tonic major
• The texture is largely homophonic or melody-dominated homophony – that is each of the three players pursuing very similarly disposed musical arguments at the same time.
• The harmony is essentially functional with regular cadences articulating the musical argument. Diminished 7th chords often used as pivots in passages requiring modulation
• Other contemporary female composers include Fanny Mendelssohn (Felix’s sister) and Louise Farrenc
• In 1830 (date of composition of Symphonie Fantastique), Robert Schumann married Clara Wieck who was already an accomplished pianist and composer.

  She had been taught by her father Friedrich Wieck from the age of six.

  Her father did not approve of their marriage because he wanted his daughter to become famous and feared that this would be hindered if she were to marry someone else.
• Robert Schumann suffered from mental illness which became increasingly severe towards the end of his life. He attempted suicide twice and eventually died in an insane asylum in 1856.