CLARA
SCHUMANN
Born 13 September 1819, Leipzig, Germany
Died 20 May 1896,
Franfurt, Germany
CLARA SCHUMANN
ONE OF THE FEW
P E R F O R M I N G WO M E N
COMPOSERS IN HER
AREA
FRIEDRICH WIECK
BORN 18 AUGUST 1785
DIED 6 OCTOBER 1873
Clara’s father was
her instructor and
manager.
C L A R A AT AG E N I N E
PERFORMED FOR THE
FIRST TIME IN THE
L E I P Z I G G E WA N D UA S I N
1828
AG E E L E V E N S H E M A D E
H E R F O R M A L D E BU T
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
A F T E R T H E D E AT H H E R
H U S BA N D J U LY 1 8 5 6
SHE BEGAN TO PUBLISH
H E R OW N WO R K S
“SIX SONGS” OF1840-43
REVEALED A COMPOSER
W I T H VA R I O U S I N F L U E N C E S
 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 SCHUMANN’S
COMPOSITIONS
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 composed in 1953 “Three
Romance for Piano and Violin”.
 Three Romance for Violin
Description: No.1 in D flat; No.2 in G
and Piano, Op.22
minor; No.3 in B Flat; Op.22. This
 Composed by: Clara
composition was dedicated to Joseph
Joachim a violinist and good friend. The
Schuman
Op.22 was first published in Leipzig by
 Performed by: Bartje 11
Breitkopf and Hӓrtel in 1855 and then
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?
reprinted in Wiesbaden by Breitkopf and
Hӓrtel in 1983. (Rutgers Education, BachCantatas)
v=9U_DKLL96l4
LISTENING GUIDE
 00:00 Intro
Begins with the piano soon joined with
the violin andante. It seems to
sound sad and mournful.
 00:55
The violin arches in a steady tempo.
 00:59
At this point the piano adds a double note and
a slight pickup in tempo.
 01:06
The violin is more dominate and the piano
becomes the back ground
keeping and following the violin.
 01:46
Volume becomes smooth and light (soft) keeping tempo
and pass
 02:07
The violin and piano start to build in volume together in
the melody keeping tempo in their duet.
 02:41
The violin does a slight fad out then a soft build holding
the note till it fades again.
 02:49
There is a short silence to bridge into the next change of
notes.
 03:00
Becomes repetitive from a previous point in the melody.
 03:25
The violin picks up tempo and speed with a double note.
 03:45
Both piano and violin double meter notes, it sounds
mores playful and upbeat.
 04:10
You can hear the trill in the movement quick and repetitive.

The violin beings to build in tempo and volume and the piano
04:25
has become more the fill.
 04:46
Both violin and piano begin slowing and coming down in
pitch and volume, like coming down a set of stairs.
 05:06
There is a brief pause for about two seconds.
 06:03
The 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.
 06:15
Violin is building in pitch while the piano also building and
the notes are cascading in melody.
 06:45
The violin fades out then the piano is the dominate sound.
 06:57
You can hear faint plucking of the violin strings before it
begins to rejoin the melody with the piano.
 07:12
Both violin and piano are arching in the melody rising then
descending repetitively.
 07:42
You can hear the piano double compound notes there quick and keep
the same tempo.
 08:00
Repetitive notes keeping the same pass and volume maintaining
follow and consistency.
 08:15
There is a change in pitch and tones in the melody.
 08:22
The violin picks up speed and carries the notes in quick succession
double meter
 08:31
The piano changes tempo and pitch and becomes more dominate and
the violin becomes more the fill.
 08:58
Both piano and violin begin the fade out for the ending
 09:00
End
 One of Clara’s earlier compositions
dated 1833/35 “Piano Concerto with
Accompaniment of Orchestra”.
Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 7
Description: Piano Concerto in A minor;
-Allegro Maestoso, First movement
Allegro maestoso; Romanze; Andante
Composed by: Clara Schuman
non troppo; Final: Allegro non troppo;
Op.7. This piece was dedicated to
Performed by: Stravisky91
Monsieur Louis Spohr one of her earlier
mentors. Op.7 was first published in
1837 in Leipzig by Fr. Hofmeister.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b
(Rutgers Education, Bach-Cantatas)
ANWdzQPchQ

 00:00 Intro
Begins in A minor introducing all the fundamental elements of the
movement.
 00:21
The flute and bassoon inters the melody.
 00:26
The brass bunches through holding longer notes
 00:40
You can hear the longer notes of the violins
 00:42
Flute and bassoon are smoothly skipping together playfully.
 00:48
Enters the piano in A minor aggressively building
 01:00
The piano and the brass arching up and down with the violins.
 01:10
French horn rises above the accompanying instruments.
 01:15
Brass and full orchestra continues to build.
 01:21
The orchestra drops down and you can hear the bassoon.
 01:25
Piano enters with minor notes in succession.
 01:30
The melody slows and soften in tone and tempo.
 01:45
A very brief silence before the piano solo melody.
 02:12
The violins begin in melody with the piano.
 02:30
There is a building of the orchestra in tempo and rang.
 02:40
The piano is ascending and descending involving multi-notes.
 03:00
Very steady keys and repetitive sequence.
 03:15
You can hear in the back ground the orchestra playing softly.
 03:40
The piano picks up pass and shorter notes.
 04:00
With the change in tempo you can hear the flutes and bassoon.
 04:21
In enters the brass keep pass with the piano.
 04:30
The whole orchestra builds piano notes are arching and ascending.
 04:49
You can hear the flute over the brass.
 05:00
Repetitive theme
 05:14
There is a change in pitch in the keys.
 05:30
Piano and orchestra builds then becomes very powerful.
 05:54
Piano comes to a sudden stop then you can hear the strings
 06:04
Then the light flutes begin followed by the brass.
 06:20
The whole orchestra builds in volume.
 06:28
The brass has a sudden end then you hear the flutes.
 06:43
The horns are holding on to the notes.
 06:53
Piano is drawing out the notes and slow.
 06:58
Single notes from the piano then ends.