Songs Op. 12

Consistently rated among the greatest pianists of the 19th century, Clara Schumann née Wieck (1819-1896) also composed original music. She performed for nearly 60 years in a career that stretched from the debuts of Liszt and Chopin to the death of Brahms. Her technique was formidable and her range of repertoire wide. But for her marriage to an equally gifted and prolific musician, Robert Schumann, Clara Wieck would probably be more widely regarded as a pivotal force in European music. She admitted on several occasions that the demands of managing the Schumann household—eventually nursing her husband through the onset of his depressive collapse—meant that countless creative projects were shelved. The majority of her works were composed between 1830 and 1845; in other words, before her 26th birthday.
The Songs Op. 12 were composed in 1841, within a year of her marriage and Robert’s subsequent outburst of song composition. “Er ist gekommen” expresses the genuine passion of a newlywed, with its active piano part and wide vocal range. The style does not break past molds for the generation of song composers around Mendelssohn, Schumann, and even Brahms. But the piece is wonderfully balanced and shows attention to detail from a very talented composer that—if given more opportunity—could have created even greater songs. “Liebst du Schönheit,” on a text by Friedrich Rückert, is lovely in its restraint and simplicity. The voice moves entirely within a narrow range (no larger than a 6th), mostly in stepwise motion, with all chromatic elements given to the piano. As one might expect, the accompaniment is skillfully handled so as to provide subtle hints of light and shadow. “Warum willst du and’re fragen” is strophic and lovely, wearing its emotions openly in a confession of love. It’s the kind of song that Wieck, like many composers of the era, could craft almost at will.

(c) Jason Stell