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Three Fantasiestücke, Op. 111

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Three Fantasiestücke, Op. 111}}

{{Infobox musical composition

| name = Three Fantasiestücke, Op. 111

| composer = Robert Schumann

| image = Robert Schumann 1839.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Robert Schumann, lithograph by Josef Kriehuber (1839)

| opus =

| genre = Piano work

| composed = September 1851

| performed = Clara Schumann

| duration = 10–12 minutes

| movements = 3

}}

Three Fantasiestücke for piano, Op. 111, were written in 1851 by Robert Schumann.

History

= Title =

Three Fantasiestücke for piano, Op. 111, composed in 1851, is one of four works by Schumann entitled {{lang|de|Fantasiestücke}}. The other three are:

  • Fantasiestücke, Op. 12 (1837), eight pieces for solo piano, also based on Hoffmann's Fantasiestücke in Callots Manier
  • Fantasiestücke, Op. 73 (1849), three pieces for clarinet and piano (ad.lib violin or cello)
  • Phantasiestücke, Op. 88 (1842), for piano, violin and cello in four movements{{IMSLP|work=Phantasiestücke, Op.88 (Schumann, Robert)|cname=Phantasiestücke, Op. 88 (Schumann)}}

The title was inspired by the collection of letters and writings about music published in 1814–1815, Fantasiestücke in Callots Manier by E. T. A. Hoffmann, one of Schumann's favourite authors. The composer greatly appreciated the 17th-century engraver's sense of fantasy.{{sfn|Tranchefort|1987|p=721}}

File:Robert_Schumann_Trois_Fantasiestücke_opus_111.pdf

= Composition =

Schumann composed the Op. 111 in 1851, a few months after his appointment as {{lang|de|Generalmusikdirektor}} of the Düsseldorf Orchestra.According to Harold C. Schonberg, his conducting experience started well, but did not last, as Schumann was not very comfortable conducting an orchestra; see {{cite book|author=Harold C. Schonberg|title=The Great Conductors|year=1967|pages=126–127|location=New York|publisher=Simon and Schuster|url=https://archive.org/details/greatconductors0000unse/page/126/mode/2up|url-access=registration|access-date=9 June 2022}} In September, Clara Schumann wrote in her diary: "Robert has composed three piano pieces of a grave and passionate character which I like very much."{{sfn|Schumann|Schumann|2019|p=342}}

= Inspiration =

In these three pieces, Schumann recaptures the "passionate tone that was characteristic of the Fantasiestücke, Op. 12, composed fourteen years earlier in 1837.{{cite web|website=France Musique|author=Abdel Rahman El Bacha|type=recording at the Festival de La Roque-d'Anthéron on 24 July 2019|title=Schumann: Three Fantasiestücke for piano op 111|url=https://www.francemusique.fr/concert/interpretation/3-fantasiestucke-pour-piano-op-111-3-romances-op-111-3-fantasy-pieces-op-111|date=25 February 2020|access-date=9 June 2022 |language=fr}}

They reveal "the composer's ardour, impetuosity and inner youth, followed by a contemplative and peaceful atmosphere".{{cite web|type=Notes for Festival de La Roque-d'Anthéron on 24 July 2019|author=Abdel Rahman El Bacha|title=Abdel Rahman El Bacha, 24-07-2019. L'excellence au bout du clavier|trans-title=Excellence at the end of the keyboard|url=http://www.classiqueenprovence.fr/abdel-rahman-el-bacha-24-07-2019/|access-date=9 June 2022|language=fr}} He is said to have written them as a tribute to Beethoven's Opus 111, the Piano Sonata No. 32, because of his predilection for this work.

Details

= Duration =

Schumann gave precise indications concerning the tempo, but each pianist adapts it according to his temperament. As a result, the total duration of the performance of the three pieces is variable, between 10 and 12 minutes.

= Short description =

File:Robert_Schumann_Trois_Fantasiestücke_Op._111_Nr._1_Incipit_(1851).jpg

The two pianists James Friskin and Irwin Freundlich present the Three Fantasiestücke for piano, Op. 111 as follows:{{sfn|Friskin|Freundlich|1973|p=175}} "These short pieces were intended to be played in sequence; but this does not seem absolutely essential."{{sfn|Friskin|Freundlich|1973|p=175}}

1. {{lang|de|Sehr rasch, mit leidenschaftlichem Vortrag}} [Very quickly, with passionate expression] ( Molto vivace et appassionatamente) in C minor

:This has a fine passionate sweep and displays much of Schumann's old power and inspiration; it is technically fairly taxing.{{sfn|Friskin|Freundlich|1973|p=175}}
Duration: 2–3:45 minutes

{{clear|right}}

File:Robert_Schumann_Trois_Fantasiestücke_Op._111_Nr._2_Incipit_(1851).jpg

2. {{lang|de|Ziemlich langsam}} (Quite slow) (Piuttosto lento), in A-flat major

:Lyrically beautiful and technically simple.{{sfn|Friskin|Freundlich|1973|p=175}}
Duration: 4:45 / 5:35 minutes

{{clear|right}}

File:R._Schumann._Trois_Fantasiestücke_Op._111_Nr._3_Incipit.jpg

3. {{lang|de|Kräftig und sehr markirt}} [Powerful and very marked] (Con forza, assai marcato), in C minor

:An energetic marchlike tune, with contrasting middle section and coda featuring graceful arabesques.{{sfn|Friskin|Freundlich|1973|p=175}}
Duration: 3:15 / 3:45 minutes

Selected recordings

See also

References

{{reflist}}

= Sources =

  • {{cite book|last1=Friskin|first1=James|author1-link=James Friskin|last2=Freundlich|first2=Irwin|author2-link=Irwin Freundlich|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xK5kDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA175|title=Music for the Piano: A Handbook of Concert and Teaching Material from 1580 to 1952 |date=1973|isbn=9780486229188|publisher=Courier Corporation|place= |page=434|access-date=9 June 2022}}
  • {{cite book|last1=Schumann|first1=Robert|last2=Schumann|first2=Clara|title=Journal intime|orig-year=1967|publisher=Buchet-Chastel |place=Paris|language=fr|year=2019|isbn=9782283032756}}
  • {{cite book|last=Tranchefort|first=François-René|author-link=François-René Tranchefort|title=Guide de la musique de piano et clavecin |date=1987 |isbn=9782213016399 |publisher=Éditions Fayard |place=Paris|language=fr}}

Further reading

  • {{cite book |author1=J. Peter Burkholder |title=Norton Anthology of Western Music, Vol. 2: Classic to Twentieth Century|edition=5th|author2=Claude V. Palisca |date=2006 |isbn=9780393925623 |publisher=W. W. Norton|place=New York, London|ref=none}}
  • {{cite book |author=David Ewen |title=The complete Book of Classical Music |date=1965 |isbn=978-0131560420 |publisher=Prentice Hall|place= |pages=946|ref=none}}
  • {{cite book |author=Eric Frederick Jensen |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xdGlFgzLW6MC |title=Schumann |date=2001 |isbn=9780195346060 |publisher=Oxford University Press|place=Oxford |pages=408 |access-date=9 June 2022|ref=none}}
  • {{cite book |author=Brigitte François-Sappey |title=Robert Schumann |date=2003 |isbn=9782213617305 |publisher=Éditions Fayard |place=Paris |pages=154 |language=fr|ref=none}}

= External links =

Some performances of Robert Schumann's Three Fantasiestücke Op.111:

  • {{YouTube| uNdHx0tNLU4| Claudio Arrau, 1975, duration 10:02 minutes}}. {{access-date|12 June 2022}}.
  • {{YouTube| uVF8OtnV6Lg| Maria Grinberg, 1970, duration 11:28 minutes}}. {{access-date|12 June 2022}}.
  • {{YouTube| V1wm4bFKlW0| Vladimir Horowitz, 1980, duration 10:36 minutes}}. {{access-date|12 June 2022}}.
  • [https://www.francemusique.fr/concert/festival-de-la-roque-d-antheron-parc-chateau-florans-mozart-beethoven-schumann-chopin-mendelssohn-scriabine-de-falla Abdel Rahman El Bacha, 2019, duration 12:07 minutes], performed at the Festival de La Roque-d'Anthéron. The Three Fantasiestücke Op. 111 are the 3rd piece of the program). {{access-date|10 June 2022}}.
  • {{IMSLP|work=3 Fantasiestücke, Op.111 (Schumann, Robert)|cname=3 Fantasiestücke, Op. 111 (Schumann)}}

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Category:1851 compositions

Category:Piano music by Robert Schumann

Category:Compositions for solo piano

Schumann

Category:Music based on works by E. T. A. Hoffmann