Jean-Marc Luisada - Schumann: Davidsbundlertanze & Humoreske (2018) [Hi-Res]

Robert Schumann’s piano music defines Romanticism’s essence. Content, idea and mood dictate the form, rather than the other way around.Most of the major works draw inspiration from literature and aesthetic ideas, and often incorporate personal references. This especially holds true about DavidsbündlertänzeOp. 6. It may be the most daring, creative and unified of Schumann’s piano cycles. Certainly it is his most personal.

Schumann composed HumoreskeOp. 20 at white heat in early March 1839. In a letter to Clara dated March 11, the composer wrote, “The whole week I have been sitting at the piano, composing and writing, laughing and crying all at once. All this you will find nicely portrayed in my Op. 20, the grand Humoreske, which is also about to be engraved. … Twelve sheets completely written out in a week.” Between these two big pieces, three of Schumann’s most famous miniatures are inserted: Träumereifrom Kindeszenen, Op. 15, Melodieand FröhlicherLandmannfrom Album fürdie Jugend, Op.68.