Description
This large-scale fantasy was originally conceived as a contribution toward a monument fund for Beethoven. Near the end of the first movement, Schumann quotes a phrase from Beethoven's song cycle "An die ferne Geliebte," layering his own longing for Clara Wieck into the music. Each of its three movements carries a distinct character, combining scale and emotional intensity.
Piano works with a free, improvisatory character, ranging from Bach to Chopin and Beethoven, each shaped by imaginative, fantasy-like ideas.
About the Composer
Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
Robert Schumann was a leading German Romantic composer born in Zwickau. His poetic style reflects his deep literary sensibility, and his wife Clara Schumann was herself a renowned pianist and composer. His pedagogical piano collection Album for the Young remains beloved for its simple yet evocative miniatures for children and families. This site includes 63 of his works, including several pieces from that collection.
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