Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-19
The Musical w orld
By Gencvrn job nst stone-Bishop

"ERE are a few quotations selected
II from the letters written by Schu-
IL mann to his sweetheart, Clara
Wieck, afterward his wife, which the
Etude published in the July number.
think they will be interesting to students
and especially so right after the playing
of his symphony in D minor last FRIDAY
by our Symphony orchestral:
'I can be very serious, often all day
long-there is much going on in my soul,
thoughts on music and composition.
Everything that goes on in the world IN
terests me: politics, literature, humanity
Above all, l reflect on my medium OF ex-
preston, how to relieve through music
that which seeks an outlet. On this ac-
count many of my compositions are hard
to understand, because they are involved
in remote interests, also often signlhcant
because everything that is noteworthy
at present absorbs me, and then must
EXPRESS 1t again musically. On this ac-
count so few new compositions please
me, because, irrespective of every def
cheney in handcraft, they maunder
around in musical expression of the low
est species, and in commonplace, lyrical
phrases. The highest which can be ac-
complished here (on earth) reaches only
to the beginning of my kind of music.
A flower can do this, or spiritual poem;
an impulse of human nature. or work
of the poetic consciousness. know moth
ing about this while ] am composing, II
only occurs to me afterward-you know
what 1 mean, for you are a guide to me
toward such heights. l cannot talk about
such things, especially about music, ex-
cept in single sentences, but l think
much about it. You will find me curt
and very serious at times, and you will
not know what to think of me at all"
Geipzig, April 13, 1888, to his betrothed,
Clara.)
Through misfortune I am deprived of
the complete use of my right hand and
cannot play my pieces as I conceive
them. The injury to my hand is moth
ing, but several fingers through much
writing and playing formerly have, be-
come so weak that 1 can scarcely use
them. I used to be much discouraged
by this, but now and then heaven gives
me some original ideas, and SO I do not
think any more about it," Wienna,
March IS, 1887. to Simonin de Sire.)
lit is generally understood that Schu-
mann invented some mechanical contri-
vance to suspend one finger while the
| others played exercises. He over-exerted
himself to such an extent that one finger
| was permanently useless. Far from be-
ing a misfortune it concentrated his at
tention on compositions; moreover
| Madame Schumann devoted herself 10
playing her husbands works-E. B. H ]
81 can scarcely tell you what pleasure
| 10 is to write for the voice in contrast
| to instrumental composition and how
ideas storm and serge as I sit at work.
Many new things have dawned upon me.
even am thinking of an opera. which
will only be really possible when I am
free from editorial work" Leipzig. Feb
ruary 49, 1910, to Prof. Keferstein.)
"In the 'Davidsbund Dances Op. G.
are many wedding thoughts. +. /.
These pieces came to me when I was in
! the most exquisite agitation, how, ]
scarcely know. My Clara will find out
what is in them. for they are more ad-
dicted to her than anything else of mine
the whole tale is Polterabend (bridal-
eve), and only you can imagine the be-
| ginning and the end. If l were ever
happy at the piano it was when I COM
posed those pieces.' Geipzig, January
5, 1888. to his betrothed. Clara Wieclk)
II have finished fantasy (Op, ID in
three movements which I sketched in
June, 1886. to the smaller details. The
first movement is the most passionate
music have yet composed-an intimate
lament about you. The Others are weak
err. but I need not exactly feel ashamed
of them" Geipzig, February II, 1888, q
Clara Wieck)
Like an echo of your words when you
konce wrote me I appeared t. you often
like child'-in short, felt as If l were
in children's clothes, and wrote thirty
droll little pieces. from which I have
chosen dozen or so. and call them
Scenes from Childhood (Op 15). You
will like them. but you must forget your
virtuoso mood They are trifies like
| Frightening Near the Fireside. Blind
man's-buff.' 'Entreating Child On the
Rocking Horse From Foreign Parts,
Funny Story and so forth, what more
can l say? Now you know 1t all, and,
moreover, they are easy to play" Oeip-
zig, February II, 1888. to Clara Wieck.)
Il have become more cheerful, gentle
and melodic in my compositions. You
must have already noticed it in my