DAILY DOSE of BEETHOVEN (July 22, 2020)

Robert Schumann’s (June 8, 1810-July 29, 1856) Third Symphony captures his love of these two musical giants. When, in his last days of dementia, he was confined to an asylum in Beethoven's native Bonn, he went to visit the statue of Beethoven, Every Single Day!

Schumann and his wife Clara, made a life-long study of Bach. In studying Bach's Concerto for four keyboards, Schumann remarked: "It reminds us what clods we all are." That's respect!

The first movement of the Third Symphony No. 3 in E♭ major, Op. 97, known as “Rhenish” (composed November- December 9, 1850), reminds us of the first movement of Beehoven's Eroica. It's in the same key.

Here is the first movement of the Beethoven:

At the time that Schumann was composing the Third Symphony, the political optimism of Beethoven has become all but impossible to replicate. Nevertheless, Schumann composed a beautiful, powerful, and hopeful symphony. Here is the first movement, in the same key as Beethoven.

Schumann's 4th movement quotes Bach. It could refer to several pieces. We submit one.

Listen to the great double fugue from Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1, played by Edwin Fischer.

Then hear where Schumann takes the idea!