CLARA SCHUMANN Born 13 September 1819, Leipzig, Germany Died 20 May 1896, Franfurt, Germany

CLARA SCHUMANN ONE OF THE FEW PERFORMING WOMEN COMPOSERS IN HER AREA

FRIEDRICH WIECK BORN 18 AUGUST 1785 DIED 6 OCTOBER 1873 Clara’s father was her instructor and manager.

CLARA AT AGE NINE PERFORMED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE LEIPZIG GEWANDUAS IN 1828 AGE ELEVEN SHE MADE HER FORMAL DEBUT

Clara Introduced works of  Johann Sebastian  Domenico Scarlatti  Ludwing van Beethoven  Franz Schubert  Robert Schumann Major Composers

CLARA MARRIED ROBERT SCHUMANN 12 SEPTEMBER 1848

CLARA AND ROBERT’S CHILDREN

AFTER THE DEATH HER HUSBAND JULY 1856 SHE BEGAN TO PUBLISH HER OWN WORKS “SIX SONGS” OF REVEALED A COMPOSER WITH VARIOUS INFLUENCES  Felix Mendelssohn  Frédéric Chopin

Clara’s most famous works are: “Four Polonaises” for piano “Piano Concertino in F minor “Piano Trio in G minor, Op.17 “Piano Concerto in A minor, Op.7

Clara was appointed teacher of the piano at Hoch Conservatory in Frankfurt 1878 to 1892, improving piano playing techniques. Her last public concert was in 1891, fiver years later 1896 died from complications from a stroke.

Clara became a compelling figure in the late nineteenth century. Her life became subjects of: Opera; Clara, by Robert Convey and Kathleen Cahill Play; Clara’s Visitor by Stephanie Wondt Novel; Clara by Scottish writer Janice Galloway

Clara’s music was inspired though events in her life, her marriage to her husband Robert Schumann, his illness and his death, also through her relationship with Johannes Brahms. CLARA SCHUMANN’S COMPOSITIONS

 Clara composed in 1953 “Three Romance for Piano and Violin”. Description: No.1 in D flat; No.2 in G minor; No.3 in B Flat; Op.22. This composition was dedicated to Joseph Joachim a violinist and good friend. The Op.22 was first published in Leipzig by Breitkopf and H ӓ rtel in 1855 and then reprinted in Wiesbaden by Breitkopf and H ӓ rtel in (Rutgers Education, Bach- Cantatas)  Three Romance for Violin and Piano, Op.22  Composed by: Clara Schuman  Performed by: Bartje 11  v=9U_DKLL96l4

LISTENING GUIDE  00:00 IntroBegins with the piano soon joined with the violin andante. It seems to sound sad and mournful.  00:55The violin arches in a steady tempo.  00:59At this point the piano adds a double note and a slight pickup in tempo.  01:06The violin is more dominate and the piano becomes the back ground keeping and following the violin.

 01:46Volume becomes smooth and light (soft) keeping tempo and pass  02:07The violin and piano start to build in volume together in the melody keeping tempo in their duet.  02:41The violin does a slight fad out then a soft build holding the note till it fades again.  02:49There is a short silence to bridge into the next change of notes.  03:00Becomes repetitive from a previous point in the melody.  03:25The violin picks up tempo and speed with a double note.  03:45Both piano and violin double meter notes, it sounds mores playful and upbeat.

 04:10You can hear the trill in the movement quick and repetitive.  04:25The violin beings to build in tempo and volume and the piano has become more the fill.  04:46Both violin and piano begin slowing and coming down in pitch and volume, like coming down a set of stairs.  05:06There is a brief pause for about two seconds.  06:03The piano sound like it is doing double meter compound and repetitive melody through the notes. As the violin is keeping pass and arches in pitch.  06:15Violin is building in pitch while the piano also building and the notes are cascading in melody.  06:45The violin fades out then the piano is the dominate sound.  06:57You can hear faint plucking of the violin strings before it begins to rejoin the melody with the piano.  07:12Both violin and piano are arching in the melody rising then descending repetitively.

 07:42You can hear the piano double compound notes there quick and keep the same tempo.  08:00Repetitive notes keeping the same pass and volume maintaining follow and consistency.  08:15There is a change in pitch and tones in the melody.  08:22The violin picks up speed and carries the notes in quick succession double meter  08:31The piano changes tempo and pitch and becomes more dominate and the violin becomes more the fill.  08:58Both piano and violin begin the fade out for the ending  09:00End

 One of Clara’s earlier compositions dated 1833/35 “Piano Concerto with Accompaniment of Orchestra”. Description: Piano Concerto in A minor; Allegro maestoso; Romanze; Andante non troppo; Final: Allegro non troppo; Op.7. This piece was dedicated to Monsieur Louis Spohr one of her earlier mentors. Op.7 was first published in 1837 in Leipzig by Fr. Hofmeister. (Rutgers Education, Bach-Cantatas)  Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 7 -Allegro Maestoso, First movement Composed by: Clara Schuman Performed by: Stravisky91  ANWdzQPchQ

 00:00 IntroBegins in A minor introducing all the fundamental elements of the movement.  00:21The flute and bassoon inters the melody.  00:26The brass bunches through holding longer notes  00:40You can hear the longer notes of the violins  00:42Flute and bassoon are smoothly skipping together playfully.  00:48Enters the piano in A minor aggressively building  01:00The piano and the brass arching up and down with the violins.  01:10French horn rises above the accompanying instruments.  01:15Brass and full orchestra continues to build.  01:21The orchestra drops down and you can hear the bassoon.  01:25 Piano enters with minor notes in succession.  01:30The melody slows and soften in tone and tempo.  01:45A very brief silence before the piano solo melody.  02:12The violins begin in melody with the piano.  02:30There is a building of the orchestra in tempo and rang.

 02:40 The piano is ascending and descending involving multi-notes.  03:00Very steady keys and repetitive sequence.  03:15You can hear in the back ground the orchestra playing softly.  03:40The piano picks up pass and shorter notes.  04:00With the change in tempo you can hear the flutes and bassoon.  04:21In enters the brass keep pass with the piano.  04:30The whole orchestra builds piano notes are arching and ascending.  04:49You can hear the flute over the brass.  05:00Repetitive theme  05:14There is a change in pitch in the keys.  05:30Piano and orchestra builds then becomes very powerful.  05:54Piano comes to a sudden stop then you can hear the strings

 06:04Then the light flutes begin followed by the brass.  06:20The whole orchestra builds in volume.  06:28The brass has a sudden end then you hear the flutes.  06:43 The horns are holding on to the notes.  06:53Piano is drawing out the notes and slow.  06:58Single notes from the piano then ends.