I think followers of this sight will get a chuckle from this:
Last night I was at a concert. Before it started, the conductor came out to introduce the music. He gets to the last work on the concert: Schumann's 4th Symphony. Then he declares, "Schumann is an unjustly neglected composer." I couldn't help but laugh. I'm sure the maestro didn't hear me, but people around me did and probably think I'm a rude, stupid hick (Ok, I do wear cowboy boots to concerts). Unjustly neglected! With hundreds of cds made, countless symphony cycles, and numerous biographies I think M. Christie is a bit off base. In fairness, he has given us some truly neglected music like Zemlinsky, Korngold, Gal. Schumann neglected? Hardly.
Georg Schumann - yes. But Robert? Perhaps your conductor should listen to ClassicFM more often...
I think he meant under-appreciated, which is true and means several things; with Schumann, Haydn or Dvorak you do hear a restricted circle of things, mostly, and a performance of Paradis und der Peri in New York City a few Decembers ago in NYC was something worth note; (likewise with Haydn operas, or Dvorak's.. that much has been discussed here before.
Schumann is hardly a 'neglected composer', though. Nevertheless, it's important to point out that the vast majority of music written, whether by sung or unsung composers, is actually neglected because the core repertoire is in reality so small.
I'd put him in the category of what I call a 'taken for granted composer'. Which means that a few of his works get both performed regularly and jump out at you unexpectedly in TV soundtracks or advertisements (or on Classic FM!); a few more come up occasionally; and the majority are included in 25 CD boxed sets of 'complete editions' but are hardly ever or even never performed in concert despite being always interesting and sometimes wonderfully good. Poor Schumann.
Just to take a couple at random to illustrate that last point: when was the last time you heard Nachtlied Op. 108 for chorus & orchestra? Or the Overture to Schiller's Die Braut von Messina Op. 100? There are many others that are far from negligible works, but which never get performed or just get recorded for the sake of a 'complete edition'.
I'm in fact rather tempted to agree with the conductor who announced that Schumann is an unjustly neglected composer - although, to be sure, prima facie that does seem a silly thing to say.
Schumann is not an 'unjustly neglected composer', although he did write some unjustly neglected music - but then so did virtually any sung composer with a catalogue of a decent size.
Anyway, perhaps it might be worth focusing on major works by Schumann that are rarely performed...
There are surprisingly few pieces in his catalogue that haven't been recorded (as far as I can tell), unlike Mendelssohn and others. These are the pieces I cannot find recordings to. I would very much like to hear the extant parts of the Sinfonia solemnis, as I find his early Zwickauer symphony to be wonderfully sturm und drang...
Chamber
a few sketches and unfinished pieces, like Piano Quartet in e minor (1831)
Opera
Der Corsar, Opera (unfinished; only one chorus and 1 aria exist)
Orchestral
Symphony in c minor, Anh 5/6 (Sinfonia solemnis). Substantial sketches exist:
1 Andante - Allegro agitato 151T; 2 Allegro con brio 152 T; 3 Scherzo 161T; 4 Adagio 39T; 5 Rondo 239T
Voice(s) and Orchestra
Overture and Chorus (Chor von Landleuten) (1822)
Psalm 150, chorus and orchestra (1822)
Tragoedie for chorus and orchestra (1841)
Festival overture on the Rheinweinlied for orchestra and chorus, Op. 123
Das Gluck von Edenhall, Op. 143
Piano
6 Walzes (1830)
12 Burlesken (1832)
Fandango (1832)
2 Fughes (183)
Prelude and Fugue (1832)
Klavierstucke, WoO 16 (1-4; I have onlys seen 1 and 3)
Klavierstucke, Op. 30 (1-17; I have only seen 1-8)
Fantasiestuck (Feuerigst, con fuoco in Ab), WoO 28
Sonata (1832)
Sonata movement (1836)
Variations on a theme of Prince Louis Ferdinand (1828)
Variations on a theme of Weber (1831)
Andante with variations on an original theme (1832)
Variations on a nocturne by Chopin (1834)
Vocal (Songs)Hatte zu einem Traubekerne, WoO 12
Verwandlung (1827)
Maultreiberlied (1838)
Auf Wiedersehen, WoO 8
Hirtenknabengesang, WoO 18
Zum Anfang, WoO 17
Die Amenuhr
Hrm. There's been at least one (http://www.worldcat.org/title/schumann/oclc/37584110) recording of the Festival Overture (1993 Arkadia CD), but I think more than that.
Zum Anfang, WoO 17 was sung by Die Singphoniker on cpo with the other partsongs for male voices, I think.
There's been an EMI recording of die Gluck von Edenhall, or so I gather from Worldcat. Part of his "Sämtliche Balladen für Soli, Chor und Orchester". I don't know anything about it. (First on LP, then CD. Awhile ago, I suspect deleted- though Worldcat mentions a 2010 reissue.)
What about works like the Op. 86 Konzertstück for Four Horns? Absolute masterwork, recorded fairly often, but underperformed simply because of the logistics involving the soloists? Most orchestras who do perform it, I'd be willing to bet, simply have their four regular hornists as soloists and call in two backups for the orchestral horn parts (there are only two in the orchestra, understandably so).
Great piece, Jim, I agree. How about his Overture, Scherzo and Finale?
have known the Overture, Scherzo ... (which I think he intended to call Sinfonietta? Goes well under that name...) for a good long time and have always loved it... some of the music of its dedicatee (Verhulst) has been recorded and performed (including one of his string quartets (broadcast) and a fine symphony (two commercial recordings). A composer who warrants further investigation still, I think, based on the scores I've seen of other stuff besides... :) )
Some of those "X" and their circle recordings (Brahms, Schumann, etc.) will hopefully prove interesting to more than just the confirmed seeker of unsung music (one of them- a more Schubert-centered-one, I think- concentrated mostly on songs by Krufft and Franz Lachner, for instance, and received an interesting (positive) review; haven't heard it yet though. One could of course do quite a lot with Schumann given his close relations with many now underknown composers (I think of his letters with Hiller concerning the latter's E minor symphony which suggest that they had some sort of acquaintance...)
Well, while we're on Schumann - any opinions regarding the Mahler versions of the symphonies? As much as I abhor tampering with scores, I must admit that Mahler really does make the symphonies sing, admittedly at times inappropriately. What I cannot understand is why Mahler made that small but really annoying cut at the end of the 2nd.
Out of idle curiosity I bought the (BIS?) set a few years ago for a couple of dollars in a bin sale at the old Tower Records Classical Annex on Sunset Boulevard whilst visiting the US. I thought that I'd hate Mahler's tinkerings but they definitely do give a clarity and focus to Schumann's sometimes unimaginative scoring perking up the symphonies' duller moments. From memory (I may be wrong), Mahler is quite subtle in his alterations and remains faithful to the spirit of Schumann's works. They still sound as if they were written in the 1840s/50s, not in the 1890s. That said, there's nothing much wrong with the originals when they are played by an appropriately (i.e. modestly) sized orchestra and I've only returned to the Mahler re-orchestrations a few times. Can't say I remember the cut at the end of the Second.
Schumann's choral ballad "Der Königssohn" is a masterpiece. All four deserve to be better known.
I recall the critic/musicologist Joseph Kerman saying in the mid 1950s that he thought the neglect of Schumann's symphonies was unwarranted. Being young, I took this more or less as gospel and henceforth thought of the Schumann symphonies in much the same way that I thought of, say, Dvorak's symphony 6 (not so numbered at the time) -- existing, perhaps unfairly, in the penumbra of the Sung Symphonies. Then along with the stereo era came full sets by the likes of Kubelik, Szell, and Bernstein -- and Schumann's symphonies as a corpus seemed to move from the periphery towards the center of the symphonic canon.
I write all this simply as description. My question for this group is, were my impressions anything like your own observations -- or were they purely provincial and anecdotal?
As regards Schumann's symphonies, my experience mirrors yours exactly, although maybe 15 years later. In the process of discovering "classical" music in the early 70s, and already sympathetically predisposed towards the unsung, I was intrigued by patronising references in Gramophone (does nothing change?) to Schumann's symphonies and their inexpert orchestration. I asked about them in the very good record store in my university city and was told that recordings were rare and they had none. However, I went into the shop one day and the owner called me over, pulled from under the counter the newly issued (and very attractive) CBS set of Szell's recordings of all four symphonies and announced "I've kept this back for you". It was almost as if I was being offered contraband! Anyway, I bought the set, which subsequently achieved a grudgingly enthusiastic review in Gramophone, and loved the music. Maybe my memory is wrong, but I have always assumed that it was that recording which began Schumann's rehabilitation as a symphonist.
As far as my own experience is concerned, Schumann's symphonies have always been part of the standard repertoire. Recordings by Szell, Klemperer and Kubelik were around before I started collecting LPs in anger in the late sixties and then along came Karajan, Sawallisch, Solti and others, so I've never really thought of them as being unsung.
... collecting LPs in anger? erm... ... (But Paul Angerer did a superlative job of that.)
It doesn't have great resonance with me since I was born in 1969, making me a mewling infant in these domains of course (well, not going -there-.) Still, even in my lifetime the "repertoire" changes some, and works that received next-to-no performances and none from big-name orchestras 20 years ago then became the features of Gramophone magazine profiles and several others almost simultaneously (Suk Asrael, Shostakovich 4, come to mind here...), and are rather better known now. ... Anyway.
When I think of unsung Schumann without gap, without question mark (chevalier sans etc et sans etc?), my mind immediately goes to that same Paradies und das Peri, a vocal score of which I picked up at a booksale (and then missed a chance to hear a year ago, Dec. 2011 I think in NY City. Not a chance that comes along that often, I know. Ah well :( It would have been well worth extending my NYC vacation...)
I received my copy of Schumann 'Complete Works for Piano and Orchestra', RCA, Lev Vinocour, ORF Vienna RSO, Johannes Wildner conducting. What a treasure trove! Highly recommended. No less than 5 world premieres.
-Theme sur le nom 'ABEGG' (1831) - fair copy of the orchestral introduction he planned for the set of variations
-Piano Concerto in F (1831) - reconstructed by Lev Vinoceur (primarily orchestration). This doesn't impress me as much as the d minor Konzertsatz (below).
-Konzertsatz in a minor by Clara Wieck (1834). This is the premiere recording of the original Schumann orchestration.
-Konzertsatz in d minor (reconstructed by Jozef de Beenhouwer) (1839).
-Phantasie in a minor (1841) - original version of his Piano Concerto Op. 53
-Piano Concerto in f minor, Op. 16 by Henselt and Schumann (1844). Apparently, the concerto "lay fallow and incomplete for several years. Robert then prepared a performance version of it for Clara". Henselt reworked the piece in 1847 and published it. This is the first recording of Schumann's original completion, from a manuscript at the Musicological Library at St Petersburg Conservatoire.
-Konzertstuck in F for piano and orchestra, op. 86 (composer's own transcription of the konzertstuck for 4 horns for piano) (1849).
All in all, very interesting record. The playing is excellent, and the sound engineering is first rate - the piano practically explodes upon the listener; though I think the piano is set a bit too much in the foreground, most readily apparent in the slow movements. However, this has been a rare opportunity for me to get to know Schumann's orchestration skill and the development of his musical ideas. Highly recommended.
Dear Balapoel,
I managed to buy this tremendous CD set (via Amazon, Germany with some struggles with language!) a couple of years ago and it has proved to be one of my all-time favourites (along with Brahms Sym3, Paderewski, Grieg, Brull and some other PCs).
I find I keep returning to it, even sometimes at the expense of time to listen to some new acquisitions. Don't know whether this is because I have a soft spot for Schumann (my first ever LP in 1958 - Karajan Sym 4) or a genuine appeal of the music at the sub-conscious level.
Nevermind the reasons why, enjoy!
Best wishes
Richard
I hadn't spotted this set and it looks fascinating. I've downloaded the tracks and look forward to an illuminating listen. Thanks Belapoel.
Yes, this one has been on my wishlist for a while...
Further evidence that I need to buy more CDs!!
Quote from: Mark Thomas on Wednesday 23 January 2013, 18:22
I hadn't spotted this set and it looks fascinating. I've downloaded the tracks and look forward to an illuminating listen. Thanks Belapoel.
Mark, let me know what you think. If you can download the booklet too, I would. The notes are well-written and copious, giving a lot of detail about the genesis and various transformations of the pieces, but also a great counterpoint argument to what is normally thought about Schumann (e.g., poor orchestrator and not effective at large forms).
Thanks. The booklet comes as part of the album download from iTunes. I'll be sure to read it first.
Well - what did you think? I've enjoyed re-listening to all of the pieces on these disks.
Truth be told, I have got the set, but haven't listened to it yet. However, prompted by your post, I will listen to some of it today. Thanks for the reminder.
By coincidence, the set destined to be mine is in the post somewhere between Germany and the UK. When it arrives I'll certainly add a comment or two. I'm looking forward to it, especially since it contains some unsung Schumann unknown to me. In contrast, very much sung Schumann but I went to a concert yesterday where the Op. 41/1 Quartet received a wonderful performance by a young quartet whose members graduated from the Royal Academy a couple of years ago. What a terrific quartet it is - apologies for wandering from the thread, but the head remains so full of Schumann!
This set came to my attention in this thread, so thank you very much for bringing it up! I received it and gave it a spin of the first and third cds. The music is lovely, I'm really happy to know these pieces now, but I can't say I'm very happy about the performances.
The orchestra seems weak in my ears, lacking punch and that vibrancy that exactly the recordings that try to undo the "poor-orchestrator" fame bring. So, listening to the orchestra, the point Vinocour makes (and which I agree, his Symphonies sound right to my ears, specially in deft hands) doesn't come across.
Still, an important set, imo.
Can anyone please tell me where I can buy a download of the Vinocours CDs?? My searches turn up nothing - hardly even a CD version.
Srange, Amazon UK and Germany both have it - neither will download to the States. Amazon US does not have it. Go figure.
Thanks - jerry
I had the same problem in reverse trying to download the recording of Louise Bertin's opera La Esmeralda - available everywhere but the UK. Obviously a copyright or marketing restriction.
It's here for 24 bucks:
http://www.amazon.com/Schumann-Complete-Works-Piano-Orchestra/dp/B003E6FW50/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1361232929&sr=8-1&keywords=lev+vinocour+schumann
Thanks, Balapoel. This is all very strange. When I went to the website you posted, I get the disc version, out of stock and a price of $40.47! Are you outside the USA?
Jerry
I'm in the US. Just look at that website. The price is $40.47, but out of stock. Below, you can see 4 new from $23.77 and 1 used from $72.53. Click on the '4 new' and it will take you to a 3rd party seller within Amazon. If you haven't purchased from 3rd parties, you should. It is very safe, and often much cheaper than Amazon proper.
Das Gluck von Edenhall, Op. 143 has been recorded and is available on the EMI set of Great Choral Works - set no. 50999 6 31520 2 9. (9 CDs at a highly acceptable price.)
Not included is Das Neujahrslied, Op. 144, which I can't find a current recording of. If anyone is interested I can upload a radio broadcast with the Kölner Rundfunkchor und Orchester from the 1990s.
Quote from: BerlinExpat on Tuesday 19 February 2013, 22:25
Not included is Das Neujahrslied, Op. 144, which I can't find a current recording of. If anyone is interested I can upload a radio broadcast with the Kölner Rundfunkchor und Orchester from the 1990s.
I would be interested for one.
I second that ;)
Thanks for the upload, Colin.
Thanks again, Balapoel. Not sure how I missed that - I've been a big Amazon customer for years. I guess cuz I was looking only for a download. guess i'd just best buy the discs this round.....
Jerry
A bit off topic, but relevant here:
If the costs are relatively the same (mp3 or cd), definitely go with CD. The quality of Amazon mp3s (256kbps, which are lossy/compressed) is not nearly as good as CDs. You can rip at higher quality mp3s or non-compressed forms (like flac). You will be able to tell the difference on a decent stereo, but for ipods, etc., you probably won't. Interesting link here (who comes to a different conclusion):
http://www.lincomatic.com/mp3/mp3quality.html (http://www.lincomatic.com/mp3/mp3quality.html)
and another
http://archive.arstechnica.com/wankerdesk/1q00/mp3/mp3-1.html (http://archive.arstechnica.com/wankerdesk/1q00/mp3/mp3-1.html)
Just my $0.02.
I'd like to join others in offering heartfelt thanks to Balapoel for notifying us of this set. My copy arrived only this morning - so far too soon to offer any real comment.
But, gosh, what a fascinating set! For starters I spent two hours carefully reading the extensive detailed booklet by Lev Vinocour himself, and then chasing up references. The booklet alone is worth the cost of the set. For example, I found the treatment of Schumann by Wolfgang Boetticher in the Nazi years an absolute eye-opener.
I'm also rather kicking myself for having ignored this set since its release (in 2010?). I suppose I carelessly read 'Complete Works for Piano and Orchestra' and immediately thought 'ah yes, another compendium' without actually bothering to think of what works could be included in a set of THREE CDs. The A minor Concerto obviously...stretching the brain a bit, the Op. 134 Concert-Allegro .....these might fill 1 CD. What could be on the remaining 2 CDs? Carelessly I never bothered to think! Balapoel, in his earlier post, gives a clear and succinct summary of the whole contents, and an indication of their origins. But with reconstructions and alternative versions of such things as the familiar Op 86 Konzertstuck for 4 Horns what we've really got here is 2 CDs of hitherto unknown Schumann. Maybe of primary interest to historians and Schumann diehards, but nonetheless a fascinating set and I'm really glad to have got hold of it.
True, the orchestra isn't quite the Berlin Philharmonic, and the recordings perhaps favour the piano. But those considerations I believe don't matter a jot. Schumann himself couldn't have imagined these works being played by a contemporary crack orchestra - that surely would have been beyond his comprehension.
So, huge thanks Balapoel.
Just one further comment about downloads. When I was 30 and had the hefty stereo system with all components and the latest speakers, I would never have gone for the MP3 downloads. But honestly, at 77, I can't hear the difference anymore. And my eyes are such that I can't possibly read the booklets. Good news is that now many downloads INCLUDE the booklet in pdg format and I can blow that up on the PC and actually READ it...... 8) 8) 8)
jerry
Something like that - similar to pdf only better...... :P :P
incidentally I did get this ordered at US$24 but estimated shipping is a month off..... >:( >:(
Jerry
Another Schumann work which I can't find any commercial Recording is Adventlied Op. 71, although a choral piece, though there is a video on Youtube.
hrm... only recording listed by Allmusic is one of the movements (2. Schmetterling), but not the whole work, as sung by Elly Ameling...