Jocelyn Freeman Plays Schumann Lieder Transcriptions

Liszt's transcriptions of Robert Schumann's Widmung and Frühlingsnacht are played here by pianist Jocelyn Freeman, originally from Wales, but who now lives in London. Although the camera work in these videos only features a handful of angles, the over-the-shoulder shots give a good account of Jocelyn's playing style. It seems I'm always exhausting my vocabulary trying to discuss every angle of how to play with a beautiful legato, so it's very useful to refer students to a video to see what a fine legato looks like.



You can also follow Jocelyn on Twitter.

Geza Hosszu Legocky and Martha Argerich Play the 3rd Movement of Robert Schumann's Violin and Piano Sonata in A minor

Here are Martha Argerich and Geza Hosszu Legocky playing the fiery third movement of Schumann's Violin and Piano Sonata in A minor Op. 105, from a 2004 live performance in Lugano:



More Schumann A minor violin/piano action:

Grigory Kalinovsky and Tatiana Goncharova play the 1st movement
Agnieszka Reiner and Slawomir Cierpik play the 2nd movement

Agnieszka Reiner and Sławomir Cierpik Play the 2nd Movement of Robert Schumann's Violin and Piano Sonata in A minor

Part of the charm of the second movement of Robert Schumann's Sonata for Piano and Violin Op. 105 lies in the fact that it feels more like a character piece than the slow movement of a sonata. This video features some lovely playing from violinist Agnieszka Reiner and pianist Sławomir Cierpik in a 2003 recital at the Akademia Muzyczna w Krakowie:

Grigory Kalinovsky and Tatiana Goncharova Play the First Movement of Robert Schumann's Violin and Piano Sonata in A Minor

Chopin isn't the only composer with a bicentennial this year - June 8th, 2010 will be the 200th centenary of the birth of Robert Schumann. Here are violinist Grigory Kalinovsky and pianist Tatiana Goncharova playing the first movement of Schumann's Violin Sonata No. 1 in A minor Op. 105:

Schumann's Rules for Young Musicians

I was happy to have recently found two places to find Robert Schumann's Rules for Young Musicians in English online, both in pdf version and on everything2. Schumann's rules for musical development are no less apt now than when he wrote them. Here are some of my favorites:

4. Play in time! The playing of many virtuosos is like the gait of a drunkard. Make not such your models.

11. You must not only be able to play your little pieces with the fingers; you must be able to hum them over without a piano. Sharpen your imagination so that you may fix in your mind not only the Melody of a composition, but also the Harmony belonging to it.

31. If all would play first violin, we could get no orchestra together. Respect each musician, therefore, in his place.

36. For recreation from your musical studies, read the poets frequently. Walk also in the open air.

50. Do not neglect to hear good Operas.

59. Look about you well in life. as well as in the other arts and sciences.

61. By industry and perseverance you will always carry it higher.

68. There is no end of learning.