Schumann's Fantasy

Fantasy, Op. 17

This is my newly discovered favorite work by Schumann. This "Fantasy" is more of a Sonata than anything. It is in three movements, the middle be in a contrasting key, returning to the original key for the final movement.

The reason I have found such recent interest is after I discovered the story behind the music. Isn't that interesting - I was previously neutral towards this piece, and once I discovered the story behind it I was suddenly fascinated. (that's a good transfer). Anyway, here's the story. So Schumann wrote this while he was separated from Clara for a good deal of time, before they were married. Thought the piece there are a significant number of references to Beethoven. In fact, the piece was written for a Beethoven memorial statue celebration or something of the sort. Many of the Beethoven references are in relation to his Sonatas, which I can tell Schumann enjoyed. He writes very much at times along the lines of both the 'moonlight' sonata, as well as the last Beethoven sonata, Op. 111. Listening to the Fantasy is almost like listening to a Beethoven sonata - only one with crazy-strange dotted rhythms and syncopations all the time.. Schumann also quotes a beautiful song by Beethoven which is about distant lovers (how perfect). Throughout the piece, there are several 5-note themes which are either ascending or descending, which are references to Clara (there are 5 letters in the word CLARA), which usually occur whenever there is a beautiful spot in the music. Personally, I think it's very cool. To top it off, Schumann includes a very brief poem at the top of the score, translated is:

Among all the sounds
In the bright dream of earthly life
There is emitted a soft tone
For him who listens in secret.

How cool is that?! It's like secret-decoder pin -- Schumann Fantasy style!
It was Schumann's way of say: "look stupid, there's more to the music than you think if you look hard enough..."


but isn't that what all Romantic music is about? ...