Symphony in G minor (Schumann)

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The Symphony in G minor by Robert Schumann (1810–1856) is an early, unfinished attempt by the composer in the field of symphony . The work with two movements that can be performed in 1832/33 is also known as the Zwickau Symphony after the location of the premiere . It remained unprinted during the composer's lifetime.

Origin, performances and versions

Robert Schumann, lithograph by Josef Kriehuber, 1839

Robert Schumann had already published his first piano compositions (including the Papillons op. 2) and intended a career as a pianist until he suffered paralysis in his right hand in 1832. This circumstance was probably one of the decisive factors in dealing more intensively with questions of instrumentation and orchestral composition. Until then, only fragmentary sketches of symphonic intent had been created, he completed the first movement of a symphony in G minor, begun in autumn 1832, by November in order to be able to hold a performance in Zwickau on November 18, 1832 , which was in connection with a concert the pianist Clara Wieck , Schumann's later wife, stood. Another performance followed in Schneeberg on February 18, 1833 , for which Schumann reworked the first movement and added a second movement, which, however, was never played during Schumann's lifetime. A third performance of the newly revised first movement took place - again as part of an appearance by Clara Wieck - on April 29, 1833 in the Leipzig Gewandhaus .

The first print of Schumann's G minor symphony, also known as the “Zwickau Symphony” or “Youth Symphony”, was published in 1972 by the Litolff / Peters publishing house in an arrangement by the Swiss conductor Marc Andreae . In 2014, the new Robert Schumann Complete Edition published the various versions of the torso according to Margit L. McCorkle's catalog raisonné as Appendix 3, edited by Matthias Wendt . According to a count going back to Hofmann-Keil, the G minor symphony is listed as a work without an opus number (WoO) with the number 29.

At the opening concert of the Zwickau Schumann Festival 2019 on June 6, 2019, the symphony was premiered in a four-movement version completed by Olav Kröger with the Plauen-Zwickau Philharmonic Orchestra under Leo Siberski .

Instrumentation and characterization

Schumann's G minor symphony has the following scoring: 2 flutes , 2 oboes , 2 clarinets , 2 bassoons , 2 horns , 2 trumpets , 3 trombones , timpani and strings .

The first movement (Allegro molto) follows the sonata form and begins with a motto-like dominant tonic cadence before the main theme, characterized by dotted rhythms and syncopation , sets in. The secondary theme is in B flat major. The thematic material of the movement shows a relationship to the recently completed Papillons op. 2. The development presents both themes and new motivic material.

The second movement (Andantino quasi Allegretto) is in B minor and, as a three-part song form, combines a slow movement with a scherzo through an intermezzo that forms the middle part .

For movements 3 and 4 there are only fragments available as a score or in the form of a score ; the finale was apparently supposed to contain a fugue .

The playing time of the two performable movements of Schumann's G minor symphony is around 20 minutes.

After the premiere in Zwickau, Friedrich Wieck wrote in his daughter's diary: “The first movement of Schumann's symphony was given - but not understood. It made - for such a public, at least - too little effect. - but it is well worked and invented - but instrumented too poorly ”. Schumann wrote to his mother (but only 2 months after the Leipzig performance): "My symphony [...] has made me many friends among the greatest art connoisseurs [...]".

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Proof of first edition, Stanford University Libraries
  2. ^ Information in the context of the Robert Schumann Complete Edition, Robert Schumann Research Center eV
  3. ^ Margit L. McCorkle, Akio Mayeda: Robert Schumann: Thematic-bibliographical catalog of works . Munich, Henle, 2003, ISBN 3-87328-110-4
  4. ↑ Kurt Hofmann, Siegmar Keil: Robert Schumann: Thematic index of all musical works published in print with details of the year of their creation and publication . Schuberth, Hamburg, 1982 (5th edition)
  5. ↑ cit. n. Martin Demmler: Schumann's symphonies. A musical factory guide . CH Beck, 2004, ISBN 978-3-406-44811-9 , p. 19
  6. ↑ cit. n. Jon W. Finson: Symphonies. In: Ulrich Tadday (Ed.): Schumann Handbook. Metzler, Stuttgart / Weimar 2006, ISBN 3-476-01671-4 , p. 336

literature

Web links