Classical Music | Cello Music

Recorded on 07/10/2019, uploaded on 11/12/2019

Musician's or Publisher's Notes

Drei Romanzen, Op. 22               Clara Schumann

“A woman must not desire to compose.” This sentiment, posed by Clara Wieck one year prior to her marriage to Robert Schumann, expresses the self-doubt and uncertainty that has been felt by countless female artists in male-dominated fields. Unfortunately, Clara’s marriage to Robert, who proclaimed that “it is impossible to have children and a constantly creative husband and to compose at the same time,” did not help this matter. In addition to raising their eight children, Clara maintained a reputation as one of the preeminent pianists of her time, serving as the primary breadwinner for her family through her extensive touring. All considering, her numerous compositions are somewhat of a miracle. Her Drei Romanzen, although structurally similar to Robert’s, show her unique voice as a composer, displaying seamlessly connected phrases and dialogue between interspersing lines. Clara’s third romance ends with the same falling interval that Robert concludes his first romance with, widely known as the sighing “Clara” motif.     Gabriel Martins

Courtesy of International Music Foundation.