This work was inspired by the German writer Jean Paul’s novels.According to John Daverio in his book Robert Schumann: Herald of a "New Poetic Age," Jean Paul defines "humor" as an "infinity of contrast" and a "setting of the small world beside the great," so when viewed together, "a kind of laughter results which contains pain and greatness."
Schumann’s Humoreske certainly embodies these characteristics.The dualistic traits of Eusebius and Florestan infiltrate many parameters of the music, such as thematic materials, tonality, and structure.Schumann wrote in a letter to his beloved wife Clara Wieck from Vienna in March 1839, “All week I’ve been sitting at the piano and composing and writing and laughing and crying, all at the same time.You will find this beautifully illustrated in my Opus 20, the great Humoreske.”Clara Yang
Classical Music | Piano Music
Robert Schumann
Humoreske, Op. 20 Play
Recorded on 11/20/2013, uploaded on 06/16/2014
Musician's or Publisher's Notes
This work was inspired by the German writer Jean Paul’s novels. According to John Daverio in his book Robert Schumann: Herald of a "New Poetic Age," Jean Paul defines "humor" as an "infinity of contrast" and a "setting of the small world beside the great," so when viewed together, "a kind of laughter results which contains pain and greatness."
Schumann’s Humoreske certainly embodies these characteristics. The dualistic traits of Eusebius and Florestan infiltrate many parameters of the music, such as thematic materials, tonality, and structure. Schumann wrote in a letter to his beloved wife Clara Wieck from Vienna in March 1839, “All week I’ve been sitting at the piano and composing and writing and laughing and crying, all at the same time. You will find this beautifully illustrated in my Opus 20, the great Humoreske.” Clara Yang
More music by Robert Schumann
Maerchenbilder for viola and piano - I mov, op.113
Carnaval, Op. 9
Adagio and Allegro, Op. 70
Wehmuth, from Liederkreis, Op. 39
Novellette no. 6 in A Major: Sehr lebhaft mit vielem Humor, from Novelletten, Op. 21
Nur wer die Sehnsucht kennt, from Lieder und Gesänge aus Wilhelm Meister
Presto Passionato in g minor, Op. 22a
Faschingsschwank aus Wien, Op. 26 (Carnival of Vienna)
Sonata No. 1 for Violin and Piano in A minor, Op. 105
Ich hab' im Traum geweinet (from Dichterliebe)
Performances by same musician(s)
Maverick Pieces, Op. 37
Ballade, Op. 46
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