Symphony No. 1 (Schumann)
Encyclopedia
Symphony No. 1 in B flat major, Op. 38 ("Spring") was the first symphonic work composed by Robert Schumann
. Although Schumann made some "symphonic attempts" in the autumn of 1840 soon after he married his beloved Clara Wieck
, he did not compose his First Symphony until early 1841. Schumann sketched the symphony in four days from 23 January to 26 January and completed the orchestration
within a month by 20 February. The premiere took place under the baton of Felix Mendelssohn
on 31 March 1841 in Leipzig
. The symphony was warmly received. Until Schumann composed this symphony, he was largely known for his works for the piano
and for voice
. Clara encouraged him to write symphonic music. The title of "Spring Symphony" was bestowed upon it, according to Clara's diary, because of the Spring poems of Adolph Boettger. However, Schumann himself said he was merely inspired by his Liebesfrühling (spring of love). The last movement of the symphony also uses the final theme of Kreisleriana
, and therefore recalls the romantic and fantastic inspiration of this piano composition.
The symphony has four movements. They are marked:
The orchestration is for 2 flute
s, 2 oboe
s, 2 clarinet
s, 2 bassoon
s, 4 horns, 2 trumpet
s, 3 trombone
s, timpani
, triangle
and string
s. Schumann especially expanded the use of timpani
in this revolutionary piece. Schumann made some revisions until the definitive full-score of the symphony was published in 1853. The playing time of the symphony is about 29-31 minutes, depending upon the interpretation.
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....
. Although Schumann made some "symphonic attempts" in the autumn of 1840 soon after he married his beloved Clara Wieck
Clara Schumann
Clara Schumann was a German musician and composer, considered one of the most distinguished pianists of the Romantic era...
, he did not compose his First Symphony until early 1841. Schumann sketched the symphony in four days from 23 January to 26 January and completed the orchestration
Orchestration
Orchestration is the study or practice of writing music for an orchestra or of adapting for orchestra music composed for another medium...
within a month by 20 February. The premiere took place under the baton of Felix Mendelssohn
Felix Mendelssohn
Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Barthóldy , use the form 'Mendelssohn' and not 'Mendelssohn Bartholdy'. The Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians gives ' Felix Mendelssohn' as the entry, with 'Mendelssohn' used in the body text...
on 31 March 1841 in 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 symphony was warmly received. Until Schumann composed this symphony, he was largely known for his works for the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
and for voice
Voice
Voice may refer to:* Human voice* Voice control or voice activation* Writer's voice* Voice acting* Voice vote* Voice message-In film:* Voice , a 2005 South Korean film* The Voice , a 2010 Turkish horror film directed by Ümit Ünal...
. Clara encouraged him to write symphonic music. The title of "Spring Symphony" was bestowed upon it, according to Clara's diary, because of the Spring poems of Adolph Boettger. However, Schumann himself said he was merely inspired by his Liebesfrühling (spring of love). The last movement of the symphony also uses the final theme of Kreisleriana
Kreisleriana
Kreisleriana, Op. 16, is a composition in eight movements by Robert Schumann for solo piano, subtitled , written in April 1838. Dedicated to Frédéric Chopin, it is a very dramatic work and is considered to be one of Schumann's finest compositions....
, and therefore recalls the romantic and fantastic inspiration of this piano composition.
The symphony has four movements. They are marked:
- Andante un poco maestoso – Allegro molto vivace (B flat major)
- Larghetto (E flat major)
- Scherzo: Molto vivace – Trio I: Molto piu vivace – Trio II (G minor)
- Allegro animato e grazioso (B flat major)
The orchestration is for 2 flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
s, 2 oboe
Oboe
The oboe is a double reed musical instrument of the woodwind family. In English, prior to 1770, the instrument was called "hautbois" , "hoboy", or "French hoboy". The spelling "oboe" was adopted into English ca...
s, 2 clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
s, 2 bassoon
Bassoon
The bassoon is a woodwind instrument in the double reed family that typically plays music written in the bass and tenor registers, and occasionally higher. Appearing in its modern form in the 19th century, the bassoon figures prominently in orchestral, concert band and chamber music literature...
s, 4 horns, 2 trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
s, 3 trombone
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
s, timpani
Timpani
Timpani, or kettledrums, are musical instruments in the percussion family. A type of drum, they consist of a skin called a head stretched over a large bowl traditionally made of copper. They are played by striking the head with a specialized drum stick called a timpani stick or timpani mallet...
, triangle
Triangle (instrument)
The triangle is an idiophone type of musical instrument in the percussion family. It is a bar of metal, usually steel but sometimes other metals like beryllium copper, bent into a triangle shape. The instrument is usually held by a loop of some form of thread or wire at the top curve...
and string
String section
The string section is the largest body of the standard orchestra and consists of bowed string instruments of the violin family.It normally comprises five sections: the first violins, the second violins, the violas, the cellos, and the double basses...
s. Schumann especially expanded the use of timpani
Evolution of Timpani in the 18th and 19th centuries
The modern timpani evolved in the 18th and 19th centuries from the simple 12th century membranophone of the Naker to a complex instrument, consisting of a suspended kettle with a foot operated clutch, capable of rapid tuning...
in this revolutionary piece. Schumann made some revisions until the definitive full-score of the symphony was published in 1853. The playing time of the symphony is about 29-31 minutes, depending upon the interpretation.
Selected discography
- Robert Schumann: 4 Symphonien. The Berliner Philharmoniker conducted by Herbert von KarajanHerbert von KarajanHerbert von Karajan was an Austrian orchestra and opera conductor. To the wider world he was perhaps most famously associated with the Berlin Philharmonic, of which he was principal conductor for 35 years...
(Deutsche Grammophon) - Robert Schumann: Symphonies 1-4 & "Manfred" Overture. The Cleveland OrchestraCleveland OrchestraThe Cleveland Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Cleveland, Ohio. It is one of the five American orchestras informally referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1918, the orchestra plays most of its concerts at Severance Hall...
conducted by George SzellGeorge SzellGeorge Szell , originally György Széll, György Endre Szél, or Georg Szell, was a Hungarian-born American conductor and composer...
(Sony Classical Masterworks Catalog No. 62349), released 10/01/1996 - Robert Schumann: Symphonies 1-4. The Wiener PhilharmonikerVienna Philharmonic OrchestraThe Vienna Philharmonic is an orchestra in Austria, regularly considered one of the finest in the world....
conducted by Leonard BernsteinLeonard BernsteinLeonard Bernstein August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, author, music lecturer and pianist. He was among the first conductors born and educated in the United States of America to receive worldwide acclaim...
(Deutsche Grammophon Double Catalog No. 453049), released 02/11/1997 - Robert Schumann: Symphonies 1-4 & Overture, Scherzo and Finale. The Staatskapelle Dresden conducted by Wolfgang SawallischWolfgang SawallischWolfgang Sawallisch is a retired German conductor and pianist.-Biography:Sawallisch was born in Munich, and studied composition and pianoforte there privately: at the conclusion of the war, in 1946 he continued his studies at the Munich High School for Music and passed his final examination for...
(EMI Great Recordings of the Century Catalog No. 67771), released 04/09/2002 - Robert Schumann: Complete Symphonies (including both versions of Symphony No. 4 and the early Symphony in G minor), Overture, Scherzo & Finale and Konzertstück in F. Orchestre Révolutionnaire et RomantiqueOrchestre Révolutionnaire et RomantiqueThe Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique, founded in 1990 by John Eliot Gardiner, performs Classical and Romantic music, using the principles and original instruments of historically informed performance. The orchestra has recorded symphonies, operas, concertos, and other works of Beethoven,...
, conducted by Sir John Eliot Gardiner. (Archiv, Catalogue No. 457591), released 12/5/1998 - Robert Schumann: Symphonies 1-4 & "Manfred" and "Genoveva" Overture. The Berliner Philharmoniker conducted by Rafael KubelíkRafael KubelíkRafael Jeroným Kubelík was a Czech conductor and composer.-Early life:Kubelík was born in Býchory, Bohemia, Austria-Hungary, today's Czech Republic. He was the sixth child of the Bohemian violinist Jan Kubelík, whom the younger Kubelík described as "a kind of god to me." His mother was a Hungarian...
(Deutsche Grammophon)