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Robert Schumann (1810-1856)

Donald Macleod unpacks the moments in Schumann鈥檚 life when he created his most notable piano works

Robert Schumann鈥檚 early training was focused towards his ambition to become a celebrated concert pianist, but a hand injury quickly put that career option out of reach. Schumann turned instead to composition and put all that piano study to good use, writing many important works for his own instrument. This week, Composer of the Week unpacks the moments in Schumann鈥檚 life when he was creating some of his most famous and notable piano works, including one of the most iconic Romantic pianos concertos of all time.

Music Featured:

So wahr die Sonne scheinet, Op 37 No 12 (from Zw枚lf Gedichte aus Liebesfr眉ling)
Symphony in G minor, WoO 29 (Zwickau)
Allegro in B minor, Op 8
Carnaval, Op 9
Kreisleriana, Op 16 No 8 (Schnell und spielend)
Fantasy in C, Op 17 No 1
Drei Ges盲nge, Op 31
Kinderszenen, Op 15
Myrthen, Op 25 No 1 (Widmung)
Symphony No 1 in B flat, Op 38 (Spring) (excerpt)
Faschingsschwank aus Wien, Op 26 No 5 (Finale)
Piano Quintet in E flat, Op 44
The Merry Peasant, Op 68 No 10 (from Album f眉r die Jugend)
Piano Concerto in A minor, Op 54
Symphony No 2 in C major, Op 61 (Scherzo)
Piano Trio No 1 in D minor, Op 63 (excerpt)
Manfred Overture, Op 115
Drei Fantasiest眉cke, Op 111
Missa Sacra in C minor, Op 147 (Gloria & Credo)
Introduction and Allegro, Op 134

Presented by Donald Macleod
Produced by Luke Whitlock, for 大象传媒 Wales

For full track listings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Robert Schumann (1810-1856) /programmes/m000vy3d

And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we鈥檝e featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z

Release date:

Available now

55 minutes

Podcast