Making Peace with Schumann

So next week I'm playing a concert with some of my friends....

On the program will be:

Brahms E flat sonata
Debussy cello sonata
and

the Schumann piano quartet.

I basically chose a lot of the program. And for some reason for which I don't understand, I chose the Schumann. Which a few years ago would never have done so.

You see until recently I've had a love-hate relationship with this composer. Mostly hate.

It dates all the way back to 1990.....when I was given Marchenbilder to learn in second year at university. Well, I learned the last movement, performed it and then put it away for a year and a half. Dug it out again for my fourth year recital. And then promptly proceeded to destroy it in the performance. My mark reflected this sorry effort.....

[You see dear blog reader(s)-you have to understand that until about seven years ago I was not a good violist. Well maybe sometimes.....I was like the little girl with the curl on her forehead.....how I became a better player-well that's another post.]

Schumann was the mirror that showed all my faults as a player.

Bad intonation, check.
Shifting inadaquacies, check.
Strange tone colour, check.

And so on....

It was the beginning of a very difficult three years culminating the near end of my relationship with the viola-well that's another story too.

The other problem was that Schumann did not affect me emotionally like other composers. Like Brahms and Bach. Just didn't get it.

Fast forward 7 years to 1999, Berkeley.

Working in a violin shop, just looking for something to listen to for background music. Discovered two recordings.

Janos Starker's recording of the Fantasy Pieces
Horszowski 's recording of the Kinderszenen, Op. 15

The latter held my attention for months. Started to like Schumann just a little.

2000, NOI, Maryland.

Schumann's Symphony No. 3

After playing this piece, not so fond......difficult to play in many ways. (Disclaimer-maybe I just was tired because the same concert included Rachmaninov's Symphonic Dances the *hardest* piece I ever played probably always will be)

Okay-all done with Schumann. I'll stick with Brahms, thank you....

Fall 2006, Central Vermont.

Driving around with the kids listening to the radio. And then the Schumann Third comes on. Should be home in 5 minutes. Drive around for 30 to hear the whole piece. I couldn't believe it...Schumann is now one of my favorites. And now I get it.......

Back to work!