The Schumann Requiem, op.148: Some Works are Ignored for Convenience
John Gibbons
Mendelssohn, Schumann
One of the greatest benefits of being a music teacher is that the teacher (if he cares about his classes) is compelled to explore obscure repertory in the interests of “due diligence”. You can’t just put on the best known works and point out how great they are, although there are occasionally inexperienced or unimaginative students who prefer such an approach, albeit very few in my classes after 13 years of steady attention to neglected repertory. I freely admit to sometimes eccentric choices; It’s probably more useful to go out on a limb than play it safe…so in studying the symphonies of Carl Nielsen recently, we concentrated on the Third and the Sixth at the expense of the better known Fourth and Fifth. My reasoning was that the later two works didn’t need the help, they are very clear conceptions, whereas the other two are wonderfully enigmatic.
In attempting to at least listen to as much of the oeuvre of Mendelssohn and Schumann as possible, I realize that it is naturally not possible to analyze the scores of such a vast amount of work. For deeper analysis I need to pick and choose a suitable cross-section. And for the most part, the truly obscure works are unknown for pretty good reasons; they either are purely practical works, designed to provide for a need or generate income, or they’re unsuccessful in some way. Some “unsucessful” pieces are fascinating, and deserve attention, such as Schumann’s Genoveva or Mendelssohn’s “Lobgesang” symphony.
I’ve pawed through my extensive collection of books about Schumann, and I’ve found that nobody but nobody seems to care about the Requiem, op. 148. Not much, anyway. Schauffler simply says “… these (the late choral) works need not detain us.” Jensen merely notes the elegiac character of the Requiem, and comments that it has more contrast than the Mass. Carl Dahlhaus, in his arrogant and controversial book, Nineteenth Century Music interestingly comments that the Requiem reflects an era in which the Catholic Requiem text could be seen merely as an elegiac poem, and compares the Schumann work to the Brahms Requiem, which misses an important point. Schumann’s work is an elegant and gentle acceptance of death, and is about death, while Brahms’ incalculably great work is about the living, the mourners, and is the world’s most sublime work of consolation in any artistic field.
Schumann’s late works may show a slackening of originality (but whether they are lesser than the early works is debatable!) and it’s tough to be a sheep among goats, so to speak, and to appropriate an image from the text concerning the Last Judgement. Probably some Vivaldi concertos are better than others, and some Kirnberger fugues are better than others, for instance. I sort of hope I don’t have to find out, however, any time soon!
Schumann’s Requiem is a masterpiece. Just listen to it. Just listen to it with an open mind (don’t expect to hear traces of Carnaval or Dichterliebe). Schumann said, “one writes a requiem for oneself”, and those who want to can surely find premonitions of madness and death in the resignation of the piece. That’s not the approach I’d take, however….there are more interesting and less obvious approaches. The piece is in D-flat major, which in Schumann’s time is almost exclusively a piano key, not an orchestral key, which indicates something about its dreamy otherworldliness. If a reader of this blog listens to the piece and finds it a waste of time, he can dangle me upside down out of a window and I’ll apologise “unreservedly” a la John Cleese in “A Fish Called Wanda”.
The cd conducted by Wolfgang Sawallisch for Eurodisc is excellent, although I can’t promise its availability.
Reader Comments (7)
I wholeheartedly agree that due diligence requires a music teacher to explore obscure repertory. Unfortunately, obscure repertory includes even the greatest works of the hundreds of composers of African descent. My website www.AfriClassical.com profiles 41 Black composers, from Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges (1745-1799) to living composers such as H. Leslie Adams (b. 1932), whose opera "Blake" was excerpted by the New York City Opera Company in 2006. William Grant Still (1895-1978) wrote the "Afro-American Symphony", which was premiered by Howard Hanson and the Rochester Philharmonic in 1931. While it is one of the most successful compositions by a Black composer, it too must be regarded as obscure, because even it is performed infrequently and is seldom heard on most radio stations. I hope you will introduce your students to some of Saint-Georges' violin concertos, symphonies and string quartets, which were quite fashionable in their day.
Hi William, thanks for your comment. I'll be sure to check out your site. I'd encourage everyone interested in this problem to visit Rachel Barton Pine's blog at http://www.violinist.com/blog/RachelBartonPine/. This Chicago-based violinist has created a library of string music by African American composers. While the European repertory from Bach to Schoenberg is my principal teaching arena, I'm glad for the chance to plug another resource for unduly neglected repertoire.
I can help you with writing jobs.
essay ideas
Burberry, maker of the classic trench coat and plaid scarf, Coach Store Online has transformed itself into one of the hottest brands in fashion today making Coach Outlet Online Store . The Coach Factory Outlet is a mainstay of high fashion, so much so many companies have started making replica Coach Factory Outlet Store.
Coach Factory was founded in 1856 by 21 year old Thomas Burberry a apprentice to a country draper in England. He started by opening a outfitters shop. Originally known as an outdoor wear manufacturer, Coach Outlet Online Store invented Gabardine which is a breathable, waterproof fabric that is made by waterproofing the yarn prior to weaving. This was patented in 1888. Coach Factory Outlet Online Most of the original line was directed towards outerwear and military uniforms. In 1901 the familiar Burberry Equestrian Knight was developed and registered as a trademark. In the 1920's theCoach Factory Outlet Online which had been used as a lining for their trench coat was trademarked. It has since become synonymous with Coach Outlet Online. These distinctive trench coats have been seen in movies. For example Humphrey Bogart wore one in Casablanca, Peter Sellers in the Pink Panther films, and Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's. And this is how the burberry handbag and replica burberry handbags craze iniated.
The Coach Outlet Onlineentered the scene around strong around 1999 when the appointment of Italian designed Robert Menchetti to the division renewed the brands popularity. Prior to this it was slumping because of a very conservative image and an Asian recession which had always been a stronghold for the company. But soon Coach Outlet will be seen worldwide.
Such notables as David Beckham, Coach Factory Tamara Beckwith, and Spice Girl Victoria Adams Coach Bag fully embraced the new approach along with Prince William and Kate Moss. It looks as if the Coach Outlet Store is finally among the elite chic of the fashion world.
A few of the more notableCheap Coach Purses styles include :
The Ultra-chic Burberry Blue Check handbag is compact, lightweight and ideal for today's fashionable woman. Coach Purse Outlet Online Attractive blue, white, ivory tan and black cover vinyl-coated canvas in the familiar Coach Outlet Stores is accented with tan leather trim. Full-length zippered top opens to reveal a canvas lined interior. Matching tan leather strap fits comfortably on the shoulder. Blue Check Coach Outlet Coupon is 10-1/4 inches wide, 4-3/4 inches high and 1-3/4 inches deep. Shoulder strap is 26-inches long. This handbag typically sells for approximately 450 dollars. Truly a stunningCoach Factory Store Online . A replica burberry handbag of the same style will run you about 100 dollars.
Cheap Coach Bags Check Snowdrop handbag is compact, sleekly styled and just right for today's busy woman. This colors of pink, white and tan for the Candy Check cover in vinyl-coated canvas. It is accented with matching tan leather piped trim.
Christmas sale <h1>coach handbags outlet</h1>
So much that one cannot bear to part with it <h1>cheap designer handbags</h1>
cheap designer handbags<h1>cheap coach handbags</h1>
Single product sales <h1>authentic jerseys suppliers</h1>
Delicate and beautiful <h1>cheap coach bags</h1>
Buy want to buy products <h1>coach outlet</h1>
Design Division <h1>coach outlet store online</h1>
Beautiful and durable <h1>coach factory outlet</h1>
Good quality affordable <h1>nfl jerseys suppliers</h1>
The most fashionable cheap <h1>cheap nfl jerseys</h1>
Spot buying <h1>coach bags on sale</h1> Welcome to buy
97<h1>Louis Vuitton Bags</h1>
<h1>Coach Outlet Store Online</h1>
<h1>Coach Purses Outlet</h1>
<h1>Coach Online Outlet Store</h1>
<h1>Coach Factory Outlet Store Online</h1>
<h1>Coach Factory Store Online</h1>
<h1>Cheap Louis Vuitton Bags</h1>
<h1>Coach Factory Outlet Online</h1>
<h1>Coach Outlet Store</h1>
<h1>Louis Vuitton Outlet</h1>
<h1>Coach Purse</h1>
<h1>Authentic Louis Vuitton Handbags</h1>
<h1>Coach Outlet</h1>
<h1>Chanel Bags</h1>
<h1>Louis Vuitton Bags</h1>
<h1>Louis Vuitton Outlet</h1>
<h1>Louis Vuitton Bag</h1>
<h1>Coach Factory Outlet Online</h1>
<h1>Louis Vuitton</h1>
<h1>Coach Factory Outlet Store</h1>
<h1>Coach Factory Outlet</h1>
<h1>Coach Outlet Online Store</h1>
<h1>Coach Purse Outlet</h1>
<h1>Louis Vuitton Bags</h1>
<h1>Louis Vuitton Bags</h1>
<h1>Coach Factory Outlet Store</h1>
<h1>Coach Outlets</h1>
<h1>Coach Outlet Online</h1>
<h1>Coach Outlet Stores Online</h1>
<h1>Louis Vuitton USA</h1>
<h1>Coach Outlet</h1>
<h1>Coach Factory Online</h1>
<h1>www.louisvuitton.com</h1>
<h1>Coach Outlet Online</h1>
<h1>Coach Outlet Bags</h1>
<h1>Coach Purse Outlet Online</h1>
<h1>Louis Vuitton</h1>
<h1>Coach Outlet Online</h1>
<h1>Coach Purses Outlet</h1>
<h1>Coach Bags</h1>
<h1>Coach Online Store</h1>
<h1>Coach Handbags Outlet</h1>
<h1>Chanel Outlet Store</h1>
<h1>Cheap Louis Vuitton</h1>
<h1>Chanel Outlet</h1>
<h1>Louis Vuitton Sunglasses</h1>
<h1>Coach Outlet Online</h1>
<h1>LV Bags</h1>
<h1>Coach Outlet Store Online</h1>
<h1>Coco Chanel Bags</h1>
<h1>Chanel Handbags</h1>
<h1>Coach Outlet</h1>
<h1>Louis Vuitton Outlet</h1>
<h1>Coach Purses</h1>
<h1>Coach Handbags Outlet</h1>
<h1>Coach Factory Outlet Online</h1>
<h1>Louis Vuitton Outlet</h1>
<h1>Chanel Outlet Store Online</h1>
<h1>Coach Outlet Online</h1>
<h1>Coach Handbags</h1>
<h1>Coach Outlet</h1>
<h1>Burberry Outlet</h1>
<h1>Burberry Scarf</h1>
<h1>Coach Outlet Store Online</h1>
<h1>Louis Vuitton</h1>
<h1>Louis Vuitton Outlet</h1>
<h1>Coach Bag</h1>
<h1>Coach Outlet</h1>
<h1>Coach Factory Outlet Store</h1>
<h1>Coach Factory</h1>
<h1>Coach Purses Outlet Online</h1>
<h1>Louis Vuitton Bags</h1>
<h1>Coach Factory Store</h1>
<h1>Louis Vuitton</h1>
<h1>Coach Online Outlet Store</h1>
<h1>Louis Vuitton Bags</h1>
<h1>Louis Vuitton Outlet</h1>
<h1>Coach Outlet Store Online</h1>
<h1>Coach Factory Store</h1>
<h1>www.louisvuitton.com</h1>
<h1>Coach Handbags Factory Outlet</h1>
<h1>Coach Online Factory Store</h1>
<h1>Coach Factory Store Online</h1>
<h1>Coach Outlet Online</h1>
<h1>Coach Factory Handbag Outlet Store</h1>
<h1>Coach Outlet Stores</h1>
<h1>Coach Factory Outlet</h1>
<h1>Coach Factory Outlet Online</h1>
<h1>Coach Store Online</h1>
<h1>Coach Factory Outlet Online</h1>
<h1>Coach Factory Store Online</h1>
<h1>Coach Factory Outlet</h1>
<h1>Coach Outlet</h1>
<h1>Louis Vuitton Handbags</h1>
<h1>Coach Handbag Outlet</h1>
<h1>Louis Vuitton</h1>
<h1>Cheap Coach Bags</h1>
<h1>Coach Outlet Store Online</h1>
<h1>Chanel Bags</h1>
<h1>Louis Vuitton Handbags</h1>
<h1>www.louisvuitton.com</h1>
<h1>Coach Factory Online</h1>
<h1>Louis Vuitton Purses</h1>
<h1>Coach Factory Outlet Online</h1>
<h1>Chanel Outlet Online</h1>
<h1>Coach Outlets</h1>
<h1>Louis Vuitton Handbags</h1>
<h1>Coach Factory Online</h1>
<h1>Coach Outlet Store Online</h1>
<h1>Coach Outlet Store Online</h1>
<h1>Coach Outlet Online</h1>
<h1>Coach Factory Outlet</h1>
<h1>Louis Vuitton Purses</h1>
<h1>Coach Factory Outlet Online</h1>
<h1>Chanel Bags</h1>
<h1>Coach Store Online</h1>
<h1>Coach Factory</h1>
<h1>Coach Bags</h1>
<h1>Coach Factory Outlet Online</h1>
<h1>Louis Vuitton Handbags</h1>
<h1>Coach Outlet Store</h1>
<h1>Coach Outlet Store</h1>
<h1>Louis Vuitton</h1>
<h1>Louis Vuitton Purses</h1>
<h1>Coach Outlet Purses</h1>
<h1>Coach Online Outlet Store</h1>
<h1>Coach Factory Outlet</h1>
<h1>Coach Bags Outlet</h1>
<h1>Coach Outlet Stores Online</h1>
<h1>Louis Vuitton Handbags</h1>
<h1>Coach Factory Online Sale</h1>
<h1>Coach Store Online</h1>
<h1>Coach Handbags</h1>
<h1>Coach Outlet Handbags</h1>
<h1>Coach Purse Outlet</h1>
<h1>Louis Vuitton Outlet Online</h1>
<h1>Coach Outlet Online Store</h1>
<h1>Coach Factory Outlet</h1>
<h1>Coco Chanel Handbags</h1>
<h1>Burberry Outlet</h1>
<h1>Coach Online Factory Store</h1>
<h1>Louis Vuitton</h1>
<h1>Coach Outlet Store Online</h1>