Kreisleriana

Historical context

Robert Schumann finished “another whole book of new things” in 1838, which he decided to call “Kreisleriana” and dedicate to Clara Wieck. As he wrote that year, she and “one of her ideas are the principal subject.” Schumann further stated in 1839 that the work was “almost entirely inspired” by Clara Wieck, a sentiment he reiterated that same year. He considered Kreisleriana his favorite among his recently published works, and in 1843, he counted it among his best pianoforte compositions.

The title refers to E. T. A. Hoffmann’s eccentric conductor, Kreisler. Schumann explained in 1839 that “Kreisler is one of E. T. A. Hoffmann’s creations, an eccentric, wild, and witty conductor,” adding that “the inscriptions over his pieces always occurred to him after composing the music.” Schumann described his music as wonderfully intricate despite its simplicity, with eloquence coming straight from the heart, affecting everyone when he played it. Kreisleriana, Op. 16, was published by Haslinger in Vienna.

Drawn from Schumann, Robert, 1810-1856, The letters of Robert Schumann (1907); May Herbert, Early Letters Of Robert Schumann (1888); Schumann, Robert, 1810-1856; Storck, Karl, 1873-1920; Bryant, Hannah, The letters of Robert Schumann; (1907) — public domain, archive.org.