Klarinet Archive - Posting 000307.txt from 1996/08

From: Jonathan Cohler <cohler@-----.NET>
Subj: Re: ? about Schumann music
Date: Sat, 10 Aug 1996 19:53:15 -0400

Randy,

The German word Fantasiestucke (with an umlaut over the u) means "Fantasy
Pieces" in English, and "Pieces de Fantasie" in French. I have also seen
it spelled with Ph instead of F in German, although I am not a German
expert and can't comment on the correctness of that.

The fantasy pieces Opus 73 were written in 1849 by Herr Schumann for
clarinet and piano (he wrote other fantasy pieces as well for various other
instrumental combinations). I believe he used this nomenclature to
indicate that (as he did in many of his works) he was shunning traditional
forms and letting his mind wander where it would. Nonetheless, the works
are quite structured but in a definitely Schumannian way. Cellists,
violinists, and even trumpeters (!), among others, regularly "steal" this
set of pieces for their own use.

They are extremely popular and extremely beautiful works that everyone
should know. But IMHO, they definitely work best on the clarinet.

Of course, I feel that the Prokofiev flute Sonata works best on clarinet,
as do the Schumann Oboe Romances, the Schubert violin Sonatinas, . . .

I guess maybe I'm biased.

--Jonathan Cohler
cohler@-----.net

At 4:43 AM 8/10/96, Randy Oddi wrote:
>Ok. I'm confused. The music that schumann wrote, is it called Fantasie
>Pieces, pieces de fantaisie, or Phantasiestucke, or are all of these the same
>or what?!? I'm so confused. Can someone clear this up?
>Thanks,
>Randy Oddi
>RO7878@-----.com