Schumann, Adagio and Allegro Op. 70 for Cello and Piano (Henle)

In 1849 Schumann turned to a new genre: works for piano and accompanying instrument. He showered the different wind instruments systematically with Fantasies, Romances, etc. - and always also provided an alternative part for strings. Thus Schumann also wrote an alternative part for his Adagio and Allegro op. 70 for Horn and Piano, namely for the cello. Clara played the new work together with the horn player E. Julius Schlitterlau, writing afterwards in her diary: "The piece is splendid, fresh and passionate, just as I like it!" And even Schumann admitted enthusiastically that he "had had fun with it" - which is true of many musicians even today.

Connected with his oeuvre is the term he coined, Poetic Music, with which he strove for a fusion of literature and music, a paradigm particularly seen in his lyric piano pieces prior to 1839. Thereafter he devoted himself to other genres (song, symphony, chamber music, among others).

Syllabus Information:

• AMEB Cello Associate List C