Symphony No. 4 (Schumann)

The Symphony No. 4 in D Minor, op. 120, composed by Robert Schumann, was completed in 1841 (first version). Schumann heavily revised the symphony in 1851, and it was this version that reached publication.

Clara Schumann, Robert's widow, later claimed on the first page of the score to the symphony--as published in 1882 as part of her husband's complete works ("Robert Schumanns Werke, Herausgegeben von Clara Schumann," published by Breitkopf und Härtel)--that the symphony had merely been sketched in 1841 but was only fully orchestrated ("vollständig instrumentiert") in 1851. However, this was untrue, and Johannes Brahms, who greatly preferred the earlier version of the symphony, published that version in 1891 despite Clara's strenuous objections.

The work is scored for two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, four horns, two trumpets, three trombones, timpani, and the usual string section of first and second violins, violas, cellos, and double basses. [ [http://www.sfsymphony.org/templates/pgmnote.asp?nodeid=3985&callid=790 Program Notes ] ]

The 1851 (published) version of the work is in five movements which follow each other without pause:

# "Ziemlich langsam - Lebhaft" (D minor)
# "Romanza: Ziemlich langsam" (A minor)
# "Scherzo: Lebhaft" (D minor)
# "Etwas zurückhaltend - Langsam" (G minor)
# "Lebhaft" (D major)

However, the 1841 version used Italian rather than German tempo indications and had four movements, as follows:

# "Andante con moto - Allegro di molto" (D minor → D major)
# "Romanza: Andante" (A minor)
# "Scherzo: Presto" (D minor)
# "Largo - Finale: Allegro vivace" (D major)

Schumann's biographer Peter Ostwald comments that this earlier version is "lighter and more transparent in texture" than the revision, but that Clara "always insisted that the later, heavier, and more stately version [of 1851] was the better one." (Both versions are included on the recent recording of Schumann's complete symphonies by John Eliot Gardiner cited below). Few conductors have agreed with Clara, and sometimes take the liberty of making minor adjustments here and there. Gustav Mahler even went so far as to re-orchestrate the entire work.

Discography

Seeing as the 1851 version was published sooner and included in far more concerts than the 1841 version, it is the version which is much more represented in both LP and CD catalogs. A recording can be found by just about every major conductor of the 20th Century (Karajan, Bernstein, etc.) which is too many to list here. For the 1841 version, on the other hand, there are few enough recordings to list here: the aforementioned Gardiner recording on Arkiv, and Thomas Zehetmair conducting the Northern Sinfonia on the Avie label. Gustav Mahler's reorchestration version is even harder to find on CD: BIS has Aldo Ceccato conducting the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra.

Notes

References

*John Daverio, "Robert Schumann: Orchestral Works-A Quest for Mastery of the Grand Form," liner notes to "Robert Schumann: Complete Symphonies," performed by Orchestre Révolutionaire et Romantique conducted by John Eliot Gardiner (Archiv Production 289 457 591-2). (Used for publication dates of both versions, other details; also used tempo indications of 1841 version from liner notes.)
*Peter Ostwald, "Schumann: The Inner Voices of a Musical Genius." (Boston: Northeastern University Press, 1985.) ISBN 1-55553-014-1. (Used p. 246n. on Brahms' publication of the earlier version.)
*Robert Schumann, "Complete Symphonies in Full Score." (NY: Dover Publications, 1980.) ISBN 0-486-24013-4. (Reprint of Clara Schumann's edition of the symphonies; includes her note on p. 310.)

External links

*IMSLP2|id=Symphony_No.4%2C_Op.120_%28Schumann%2C_Robert%29|cname=Symphony No. 4