Trois romances pour violin/clarinet/oboe et piano Op. 94 (1849), de Robert Schumann (1810-1856) (score).
Joshua Bell, violín
Yuja Wang, piano
1. Nicht schnell: Moderato (00:00)
2. Einfach, innig: Semplice, affetuoso (3:08)
3. Nicht schnell: Moderato (7:17)
The Romances were written in December 1849, one of the most productive years of Schumann's entire career. Previously that year, Schumann had written two other works for wind instruments and piano: the Adagio and Allegro, op. 70, for French Horn and piano, and the Fantasy Pieces for Clarinet and Piano, op. 73. According to Schumann himself, the pieces were written on December 7, 11, and 12th in Dresden. Unlike many other oboe works at the time, the pieces were not the result of a commission by a prominent soloist of the day. Schumann gave the pieces to his wife Clara Schumann, whom he once described as his own "right hand", as a Christmas present, calling them his "hundredth opusculum." Schumann's mental health was quickly deteriorating during the time of the pieces' writing; shortly afterwards, he moved from Dresden to Düsseldorf, where he was admitted to and eventually died in an asylum.
The three romances as a whole have been described as simple, relatively easy to play, and not virtuosic. However, they also require a good amount of breath control. All three romances are in "song form", or A-B-A. The work's melodies have been described as similar to each other.
The first romance consists of a piano introductory phrase followed by the main theme played by the oboe. The piano has a layered accompaniment. After a faster-paced central section, the movement ends softly after returning to the main theme. The romance as a whole has been described as "tranquil." The second romance, which is in A Major, is mostly a traditional duet between the two instruments with a tense B section that changes tempo twice. Described as "the most rugged and colorful-sounding [romance]" and reminiscent of Brahms, the final romance is the liveliest of the set. There are many mood changes throughout the piece, with the A section being excited and the B section being reserved.
I don't own the audio nor the scores shown in the video.
audio: youtube
score: burrito.whatbox.ca:15263/imgln...