Blumenstück (Schumann)
Encyclopedia
Blumenstück in D flat, Op. 19, is a piano work by Robert Schumann
, written in 1839. Blumenstück is a series of short, connected and thematically related episodes, of which the second forms a recurring refrain while undergoing changes in both key and mood. It is considered to reflect the amorous human activities with which flowers are associated, rather than as depictions of flowers themselves. The piece takes between six and seven minutes to play.
Blumenstück was written in Vienna
in January 1839; its companion piece, the Arabeske in C
, Op. 18, was written in December 1838. Other works written around this time were the Humoreske
, Op. 20, and the final movement of the Sonata No. 2 in G minor
, Op. 22. Schumann wrote that he composed the Arabeske and Blumenstück "hoping to elevate myself to the front rank of favourite composers of the women of Vienna." In his letter of 15 August 1839 to Ernst Becker, Schumann dismissed both works as simply delicate salon pieces fit only for ladies to play; however, they both contain great beauty and are full of intimate charm. His intended fiancee Clara Wieck
was in Paris
, but Schumann stayed in Vienna to compose and write for the Neue Zeitschrift für Musik
, for which he had moved to Vienna from Leipzig
. The two pieces were published simultaneously in August 1839, although not as a set. However, in a letter of 11 August 1839 to Henriette Voigt, Schumann seems to regard them as a pair of works, as he described them together as "less important than the Humoreske".
Both works were dedicated to Majorin Friederike Serre auf Maxen, the wife of Major Anton Serre, who together lent Schumann great encouragement in his romance with Clara Wieck, despite being close friends of her father Friedrich Wieck
, who was implacably opposed to the marriage.
Blumenstück features a falling four-note motif that Schumann had previously used to refer to Clara Wieck in Carnaval
, Op. 9. Rather than in his manuscript book, Schumann sketched Blumenstück in his Brautbuch; it was offered, along with the song cycle Myrthen, Op. 25, of 1840, as a bridal gift.
In a letter to Clara on 24 January 1839, Schumann wrote that he had recently completed a number of small piano pieces, with the titles:
The Blumenstück is in the form of a double theme and variations, and the Arabeske is in rondo form. It is unclear whether the first two titles refer to works that are now lost or whether they are the original titles of Blumenstück and the Arabeske respectively. It has also been suggested that both these works were originally meant to be included in the otherwise unidentified Kleine Blumenstücke.
Robert Schumann
Robert Schumann, sometimes known as Robert Alexander Schumann, was a German composer, aesthete and influential music critic. He is regarded as one of the greatest and most representative composers of the Romantic era....
, written in 1839. Blumenstück is a series of short, connected and thematically related episodes, of which the second forms a recurring refrain while undergoing changes in both key and mood. It is considered to reflect the amorous human activities with which flowers are associated, rather than as depictions of flowers themselves. The piece takes between six and seven minutes to play.
Blumenstück was written in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
in January 1839; its companion piece, the Arabeske in C
Arabeske (Schumann)
Robert Schumann wrote his Arabeske in C major, Op. 18 in 1839, dedicating it to Frau Majorin Friederike Serre auf Maxen, to whom he also dedicated his Blumenstück in D flat, Op. 19. In the autumn of 1838 Schumann had left Leipzig for Vienna...
, Op. 18, was written in December 1838. Other works written around this time were the Humoreske
Humoreske (Schumann)
Humoreske op. 20 in B-flat-major is a romantic piano piece by Robert Schumann, composed in 1839 and dedicated to Julie von Webenau. Schumann cited Jean Paul´s style of humour as source of inspiration, although there are no direct programmatic links to Jean Paul´s oeuvre found in the piece.It...
, Op. 20, and the final movement of the Sonata No. 2 in G minor
Piano Sonata No. 2 (Schumann)
The Piano Sonata No. 2 in G-minor, Op. 22 was composed by Robert Schumann from 1831 to 1838. It was his last attempt at this genre, the other ones being the Piano Sonata in F minor and the Piano Sonata in F minor ....
, Op. 22. Schumann wrote that he composed the Arabeske and Blumenstück "hoping to elevate myself to the front rank of favourite composers of the women of Vienna." In his letter of 15 August 1839 to Ernst Becker, Schumann dismissed both works as simply delicate salon pieces fit only for ladies to play; however, they both contain great beauty and are full of intimate charm. His intended fiancee Clara Wieck
Clara Schumann
Clara Schumann was a German musician and composer, considered one of the most distinguished pianists of the Romantic era...
was in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, but Schumann stayed in Vienna to compose and write for the Neue Zeitschrift für Musik
Neue Zeitschrift für Musik
Die Neue Zeitschrift für Musik was a music magazine published in Leipzig, co-founded by Robert Schumann, his teacher and future father-in law Friedrich Wieck, and his close friend Ludwig Schuncke...
, for which he had moved to Vienna from Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
. The two pieces were published simultaneously in August 1839, although not as a set. However, in a letter of 11 August 1839 to Henriette Voigt, Schumann seems to regard them as a pair of works, as he described them together as "less important than the Humoreske".
Both works were dedicated to Majorin Friederike Serre auf Maxen, the wife of Major Anton Serre, who together lent Schumann great encouragement in his romance with Clara Wieck, despite being close friends of her father Friedrich Wieck
Friedrich Wieck
Johann Gottlob Friedrich Wieck was a noted German piano teacher, voice teacher, owner of a piano store, and music reviewer. He is remembered as the teacher of his daughter, Clara, a child prodigy who was doing international concert tours by age eleven and who later married Robert Schumann...
, who was implacably opposed to the marriage.
Blumenstück features a falling four-note motif that Schumann had previously used to refer to Clara Wieck in Carnaval
Carnaval (Schumann)
Carnaval, Op. 9, is a work by Robert Schumann for piano solo, written in 1834-1835, and subtitled Scènes mignonnes sur quatre notes . It consists of a collection of short pieces representing masked revelers at Carnival, a festival before Lent...
, Op. 9. Rather than in his manuscript book, Schumann sketched Blumenstück in his Brautbuch; it was offered, along with the song cycle Myrthen, Op. 25, of 1840, as a bridal gift.
In a letter to Clara on 24 January 1839, Schumann wrote that he had recently completed a number of small piano pieces, with the titles:
- Guirlande ("variations, but not on a theme"; this could be a mistranslation of "but not on one theme", meaning "but not on a single theme")
- Rondolette, and
- "other small things, of which I have so many, and which I shall chain together prettily under the title Kleine Blumenstücke, much like one might name a series of pictures".
The Blumenstück is in the form of a double theme and variations, and the Arabeske is in rondo form. It is unclear whether the first two titles refer to works that are now lost or whether they are the original titles of Blumenstück and the Arabeske respectively. It has also been suggested that both these works were originally meant to be included in the otherwise unidentified Kleine Blumenstücke.