Schumann: Fantasiestücke for Piano & Clarinet (200th Birthday Tribute)

On June 8th, 2010, the world will celebrate the 200th birthday of master composer Robert Alexander Schumann. This is my tribute to him as one of the most inspiring composers (to me, at least) of 19th century Romanticism.

The recording is live... Enjoy!

High Definition mp3 of the full work is available for free at http://www.whosthatguy.com

(CORRECTION: This concert was in March of 2007... NOT 2006.)

Sheets: http://imslp.org/wiki/Fantasiest%C3%BCcke,_Op.73_(Schumann,_Robert)

PERFORMERS:

Piano - Maestro Alexandre Rabinovitch-Barakovsky
http://www.rabinovitch-barakovsky.com

Clarinet - yours truly, Bryan A. Crumpler
http://www.whosthatguy.com


ABOUT SCHUMANN:

"Robert Schumann,[1] sometimes given as Robert Alexander Schumann,[2] (8 June 1810 -- 29 July 1856) was a German composer, aesthete and influential music critic. He is one of the most famous and important Romantic composers of the 19th century."

"Schumann was born in Zwickau, Saxony, the fifth and last child of the family[3]. Schumann began to compose before the age of seven, but his boyhood was spent in the cultivation of literature as much as music -- undoubtedly influenced by his father, August Schumann, a bookseller, publisher, and novelist."

"Schumann's interest in music was kindled when he was a child by the performance of Ignaz Moscheles playing at Karlsbad, and he later developed an interest in the works of Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Schubert and Felix Mendelssohn."

"Schumann exerted considerable influence in the nineteenth century and beyond, despite his adoption of more conservative modes of composition after his marriage [to Clara Weick in 1840]. He left an array of acclaimed music in virtually all the forms then known. Partly through his protégé Brahms, Schumann's ideals and musical vocabulary became widely disseminated." (—Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)


ABOUT THE WORK:

"Written at the beginning of 1849, the year Schumann considered the most fruitful of his life, the Fantasiestücke were part of an outpouring of instrumental miniatures and other "minor" works intended in large part for amateur music makers. Hoping to earn greater fame (and no doubt a bit of real money), Schumann aimed to capture the widest possible market by designating the score "for clarinet or violin or cello and piano." Horn players have taken the work up enthusiastically as well." (—Harry Haskell [4])


REFERENCES:

[1] Daverio, J, "Robert Schumann," Grove music online, L Macy (ed), accessed June 24, 2007 -- According to Daverio, there is no evidence of a middle name "Alexander" which is given in some sources.
[2] Scholes, Percy A, The Oxford Companion to Music, Tenth Edition, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1970 ISBN 0-19-311306-61, pg. 932
[3] Ostwald, Peter, Schumann — The inner voices of a musical genius, Northeastern University Press, Boston, 1985 ISBN 1-55553-014-1. pg. 11.
[4] http://www.carnegiehall.org/article/box_office/events/evt_11789_pn.html?selec...

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Schumann Fantasy Pieces
• Robert Schumann
• Schumann Fantasy
• Schumann Fantasiestucke
• Fantasy Pieces
• Chamber Music Clarinet Piano

[zaremar]

Sir you listen to me and you listen well. God bless Schumann and God Bless you and God Bless the pianist. This is the most beautiful performance of Schumann that I have ever heard in my life and I am not exaggerating. This is one of my favorite pieces of music and I have heard it played countless times. Truly gorgeous, exquisite, heavanlike, soft, rich. Your tone is outstanding, it is so rich, so dark, yet so soft and controlled. I was captivated for every second of this piece. Bravissima.

[helerota]

wonderful,great musicians,beautiful!

[marikafrank]

Bravo! A piece of art - what a wonderful storytelling, the discussion between piano and clarinet.

[SilverlakePrincess96]

This is my solo for band, and while I listened to it, I followed along with my music~ This is such a beautiful piece and I'm glad I chose it

[little11clarinet]

this requires sooo much emotion!

[hopelesscynic1]

i'm playing this on the clarinet for my grade 5. unsuprisingly, my version is appalling in comparison.

[LarryLeila]

^^ i played this for solo ensemble my freshman year! i loved it :3

[alicecullen2music]

Why have more people not heard this?? It's genius!! XD

[pinkjen0825]

im playing this for contest even though its level c i like it and its really quite beautiful and it get the pretty mid range

[TheBandGeekInvasion]

Thank you for such a great recording to help me prepare for my recital. I'm performing this piece and being able to get a tone that sounds incredible helps me develope a role model to work for. Keep up the excellent work!