Joe Krause Music
Clara Schumann (1819-1896)
German, Romantic period
Born Clara Wieck, she trained in piano diligently since childhood and had an extremely successful performing career. In 1840, she married Robert Schumann, and they had eight children together. She had somewhat of a curtailed compositional career, with family and performance obligations preventing her from writing freely and often. After Robert died early in 1856, she mostly just produced piano transcriptions of his works and those of her close friend Johannes Brahms. However, the works she did produce demonstrate great skill and emotion.
Character Pieces are typically short pieces that depict a nonmusical idea, thing, person, or mood. They became particularly popular during the Romantic era, and may or may not be named directly after their subject.
4 Pièces caractéristiques (Four Characteristic Pieces)
1. Impromptu. Le Sabbat (00:00)
2. Caprice à la boléro (01:43)
3. Romance (05:29)
4. Scene fantastique (Le Ballet des Revenants) (08:31)
4 Flüchtige Stücke op 15 (Four Fugitive/Fleeting Pieces)
3 Romanzen op 21 (Three Romances)
1. Andante (00:00)
2. Allegretto: Sehr zart zu spielen (5:02)
3. Agitato (6:27)