Robert Schumann

Romantic · 1810–1856

Robert Schumann, a bookseller's son from Zwickau in Saxony, born in 1810, went to Leipzig to study law and quietly abandoned it for the piano. When a hand injury ended his hopes as a performer, he poured himself into composing and into words: he founded a music journal and used it to champion newcomers, hailing both Chopin and, much later, the young Brahms in print.

His life's central relationship was with the pianist Clara Wieck, whom he married in 1840 after a court battle with her father, who opposed the match. That year he wrote well over a hundred songs in a rush of happiness. Clara premiered and toured his piano music for decades. His mental health, fragile all his life, collapsed in 1854; he died two years later in an asylum near Bonn.

Start with the Piano Concerto in A minor, warm and conversational, written with Clara in mind. Then try Carnaval, a parade of short piano portraits of friends, masks, and alter egos.

158 works in the catalog, across 5 genres. Log what you listen to with Opus, the classical music journal for iPhone.

Chamber

Piano Quartet in E flat major, op. 47
Piano Quintet in E flat major, op. 44
Adagio and Allegro, op. 70 For horn and piano
Andante and Variations, WoO 10 For 2 pianos, 2 cellos and horn
Fantasy pieces, op. 73 For clarinet and piano
Fantasy pieces, op. 88 For piano trio
Five pieces in folk tone, op. 102 For cello and piano
Märchenbilder, op. 113 For viola and piano
Märchenerzählungen, op. 132 For clarinet, viola and piano
Piano quartet in C minor, WoO 32
Piano Trio no. 1 in D minor, op. 63
Piano Trio no. 2 in F major, op. 80
Piano Trio no. 3 in G minor, op. 110
Romances, op. 94 For oboe and piano
String Quartet no. 1 in A minor, op. 41 no. 1
String Quartet no. 2 in F major, op. 41 no. 2
String Quartet no. 3 in A major, op. 41 no. 3
Violin Sonata in A minor, WoO 2
Violin Sonata no. 1 in A minor, op. 105
Violin Sonata no. 2 in D minor, op. 121
Violin Sonata no. 3 in A minor, WoO 27

Keyboard

Carnaval, op. 9
Davidsbündlertänze, op. 6
Fantasy in C major, op. 17
Fantasy Pieces, op. 12
Kreisleriana, op. 16
Papillons, op. 2
Études symphoniques, op. 13
Albumblätter, op. 124
Album für die Jugend, op. 68
Allegro in B minor, op. 8
Andante and Variations, op. 46 For 2 pianos
Arabesque, op. 18
Ballscenen, op. 109 For piano 4 hands
Bilder aus Osten, op. 66 For piano 4 hands
Blumenstück, op. 19
Bunte Blätter, op. 99
Concert Etudes on Caprices by Paganini, op. 10
Etudes in Canon Form, op. 56 For pedal piano or organ
Fantasy Pieces, op. 111
Faschingsschwank aus Wien, op. 26
Fugues, op. 72
Fugues on B-A-C-H, op. 60
Gesänge der Frühe, op. 133
Humoresque, op. 20
Impromptus on a Theme by Clara Wieck, op. 5
Intermezzi, op. 4
Kinderball, op. 130 For piano 4 hands
Kinderszenen, op. 15
Klavierstücke, op. 32
Klavierstücke in Fughettenform, op. 126
Marches, op. 76
Nachtstück, op. 23
Novelletten, op. 21
Piano Pieces for Young and Older Children, op. 85 For piano 4 hands
Piano Sonata no. 1 in F sharp minor, op. 11, "Grand Sonata"
Piano Sonata no. 2 in G minor, op. 22
Piano Sonata no. 3 in F minor, op. 14, "Concerto Without Orchestra"
Polonaises, WoO 20 For piano 4 hands
Romanzen, op. 28
Three Piano Sonatas for the Young, op. 118
Toccata, op. 7
Variations on an Original Theme, WoO 24, "Ghost Variations"
Variations on a Theme by Beethoven, WoO 31
Variations on a Theme by Clara Wieck, op. 14
Variations on the name Abegg, op. 1
Waldszenen, op. 82

Orchestral

Cello Concerto in A minor, op. 129
Piano Concerto in A minor, op. 54
Symphony no. 2 in C major, op. 61
Symphony no. 3 in E flat major, op. 97, "Rhenish"
Fantasy for violin and orchestra in C major, op. 131
Hermann und Dorothea, op. 136 Overture
Introduction and Allegro appassionato, op. 92 For piano and orchestra
Introduction and Concert Allegro, op. 134 For piano and orchestra
Julius Caesar, op. 128 Overture
Konzertstück for 4 Horns and Orchestra, op. 86
Overture, Scherzo and Finale, op. 52
Symphony in G minor, WoO 29, "Zwickau"
Symphony no. 1 in B flat major, op. 38, "Spring"
Symphony no. 4 in D minor, op. 120
The Bride of Messina, op. 100 Overture
Violin Concerto in D minor, WoO 23

Stage

Genoveva, op. 81 Opera
Manfred, op. 115 Incidental music

Vocal

Dichterliebe, op. 48 Song cycle
Frauenliebe und-leben, op. 42 Song cycle
Liederkreis, op. 39 Song cycle
Scenes from Goethe's Faust, WoO 3 Oratorio
Balladen, op. 122 Declamation with piano
Beim Abschied zu singen, op. 84 Song for choir and winds
Bei Schenkung eines Flügels, WoO 26 no. 4 Song for choir and piano
Belsatzar, op. 57 Song
Das Paradies und die Peri, op. 50 Oratorio
Der Handschuh, op. 87 Song
Der Königssohn, op. 116 Song for soloists, choir and orchestra
Der Rose Pilgerfahrt, op. 112 Oratorio
Des Sängers Fluch, op. 139 Song for solo voice, chorus and orchestra
Doppelchörige Gesänge, op. 141 Songs for choir
Duets, op. 34 Songs
Duets, op. 43 Songs
Duets, op. 78 Songs
Gedichte, op. 29 Songs
Gedichte, op. 35 Songs
Gedichte, op. 36 Songs
Gedichte, op. 119 Songs
Gedichte aus "Liebesfrühling", op. 37 Songs
Gedichte der Königin Maria Stuart, op. 135 Song
Gedichte und Requiem, op. 90 Songs
Gesänge, op. 30 Songs
Gesänge, op. 31 Songs
Gesänge, op. 59 Songs
Gesänge, op. 83 Songs
Gesänge, op. 89 Songs
Gesänge, op. 95 Songs
Gesänge, op. 107 Songs
Gesänge, op. 142 Songs
Gesänges Erwachen, WoO 21 Song
Heitere Gesänge, op. 125 Songs
Husarenlieder, op. 117 Songs
Im Herbste, WoO 10 Song
Jagdlieder, op. 137 Songs for male choir and 4 horns
Lieder, op. 33 Songs
Lieder, op. 40 Songs
Lieder, op. 55 Songs
Lieder, op. 114 Songs
Lieder-Album für die Jugend, op. 79 Songs
Liederkreis, op. 24 Song cycle
Lieder und Gesänge, op. 27 Songs
Lieder und Gesänge, op. 51 Songs
Lieder und Gesänge, op. 77 Songs
Lieder und Gesänge, op. 96 Songs
Lieder und Gesänge, op. 127 Songs
Lieder und Gesänge aus Wilhelm Meister, op. 98a Songs
Minnespiel, op. 101 Songs
Missa sacra, op. 147
Myrthen, op. 25 Song cycle
Mädchenlieder, op. 103 Songs
Nachtlied, op. 108 Song for choir and orchestra
Requiem, op. 148
Requiem für Mignon, op. 98b
Ritornelle in canonischen Weisen, op. 65 Songs
Romanzen, op. 69 Songs
Romanzen, op. 91 Songs
Romanzen und Balladen, op. 45 Songs
Romanzen und Balladen, op. 49 Songs
Romanzen und Balladen, op. 53 Songs
Romanzen und Balladen, op. 64 Songs
Romanzen und Balladen, op. 67 Songs
Romanzen und Balladen, op. 75 Songs
Romanzen und Balladen, op. 145 Songs
Romanzen und Balladen, op. 146 Songs
Schön Hedwig, op. 106 Declamation with piano
Sommerruh, wie schoen bist du!, WoO 9 Song
Songs, op. 104 Songs
Spanische Liebeslieder, op. 138 Songs
Spanisches Liederspiel, op. 74 Songs
Vom Pagen und der Königstochter, op. 140 Songs for soloists, choir and orchestra

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