Robert Schumann: Symphony No. 1 "Spring" in B-flat major, op. 38 (1841)

0:00 Andante un poco maestoso - Allegro molto vivace
11:02 Larghetto
17:26 Scherzo: molto vivace - Trio I: Molto piu vivace - Trio II - Coda: Come sopra ma un poco più lento - Quasi presto - Meno presto
22:41 Allegro animato e grazioso
Score video of Schumann's "spring" symphony. Although he had made some "symphonic attempts" in the autumn of 1840 soon after he married Clara Wieck, he did not compose his first symphony until early 1841. Until then, Schumann was largely known for his works for the piano and for voice. Clara encouraged him to write symphonic music, noting in her diary, "it would be best if he composed for orchestra; his imagination cannot find sufficient scope on the piano... His compositions are all orchestral in feeling... My highest wish is that he should compose for orchestra-that is his field! May I succeed in bringing him to it!"
Schumann sketched the symphony in four days from 23 to 26 January and completed the orchestration by 20 February. The premiere took place under the baton of Felix Mendelssohn on 31 March 1841 in Leipzig, where the symphony was warmly received. According to Clara's diary, the title "Spring Symphony" was bestowed upon it due to Adolf Böttger's poem Frühlingsgedicht. The symphony's opening has traditionally been associated with the closing lines of Böttger's poem, "O wende, wende deinen Lauf/Im Thale blüht der Frühling auf!" (“O, turn, O turn and change your course/In the valley, Spring blooms forth!"). This view has been challenged, and the call of a Leipzig nightwatchman has been mentioned as an alternative source.
John Eliot Gardiner & Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique
Archiv Produktion
1998

[@fabiocastellotto8049]

Just got to listen to this post, in 2023, and the interpratation of J.E.Gardner just blew me away. Probably the first time I understood this Symphony and the young, just married, Robert Schumann....It feels like a Vivaldi Spring in the romantic period.

[@peter_kitsune]

The opening sounds so much like fantasy film music! Epic stuff!

[@majaica554]

5:50 flute solo (I. movement) 23:08 flute solo (IV. movement) 27:23 flute solo (IV. movement)

[@mikabarzilay]

Thank you!

[@KoreanWalker777]

Wow. Thank you for uploading!

[@gabrieru1983]

This symphony always makes me smile.....Wonderful piece!

[@oscarverdie6003]

Gracias por compartir!!

[@user-ys5ib2kt6d]

슈만 - [교향곡 1번] [봄] 특유의 신선함과 자연스러움을 지니고 있으며, 지칠 줄 모르는 리듬의 에너지가 특징적 1841 - 교향곡 1~4번 작곡 [교향곡의 해]

[@mcrettable]

Wow i didn't know schumann was such a gifted orchestrator

[@jerchiury]

Maybe not so gifted in orchestration.....not at all. But a gifted composer.

[@ChristianP06]

@Teemu H. Indeed. Schumann also pushed the boundaries of the orchestra (at the time) with this work. Think of the triangle part in the first movement, the use of 3 timpani, and the soft trombone chorale at the end of the 2nd movement. Written in 1841! Schumann (and Brahms too) had a wonderful ear for the orchestral colour he wanted.

[@Musicrafter12]

@Teemu H. Brahms' orchestration is very technically adept, but lacks imagination in my opinion. His textures are very stocky and "utilitarian", I would say, and are utterly unremarkable. Schumann is for sure much more imaginative, even if his handling of the orchestra is sometimes a bit clumsy and heavy-handed.

[@ruramikael]

@@Musicrafter12 Some really thick textures in Brahms' symphonies, often woodwinds in thirds in four different octaves. But Schumann had some assistance from Mendelssohn in this symphony, this one has a much more differentiated orchestration than the third, which might be the most problematic one.

[@ludwigvanbeethoven61]

underrated this boy was. and Schubert overrated (in my opinion just another mozartian)

[@W4rM4chinePlaysMC]

23:27 the theme of the 8th fantasy from Kreisleriana

[@papapowley560]

woahh lol

[@piapla8415]

Thank you I was looking for this!

[@georgey3372]

I believe you are correct just going from memory. Good observation!

[@notaire2]

Wie fein und perfekt die erste Sinfonie von Schumann komponiert wurde! Alles ist klar auf dieser kompletten Gesamtpartitur!

[@emanuel_soundtrack]

Nothing extraordinary for me

[@nikollmerdhoci2018]

Wanderful Schumann

[@Mini1llus10n]

Viola Excerpt #2: 3:04 ~138 BPM Goal: 120 BPM

[@tomoeagentlight]

9:38〜beautiful

[@Dylonely42]

Indeed

[@connormonday]

Gardiner always has a thrilling interpretation.

[@erika6651]

This feels rushed to me, as though Gardiner truly wasn't interested in the music.

[@user-nt6eq6pw5c]

0:00 11:02 17:26 22:41

[@Dylonely42]

Wow

[@CatkhosruShapurrjiFurabji]

23:27 Kreisleriana final movement

[@enelabe]

14:35 LOL this is Brahms Symphony 3!

[@calebhu6383]

You hear that motif in Schumann's 3rd symphony also. Brahms loved Schumann

[@arsnova3119]

15:00

[@aidankwek8340]

11:15 The video glitched for me (audio unaffected). Anyone else experiencing this?

[@johnbeuck]

no nothing

[@aidankwek8340]

@@johnbeuck Odd... I just listened to the part again, and it's gone... I wonder what happened

[@wtvhdentertainmentpro6064]

I hope I will be able to make a symphony like this some day! Fortunately, I already started and recently made 3 nice symphonies!

[@mariamastrantoni5007]

6:35

[@zylophonia]

2:17 11:04

[@teresa5021]

第一號交響曲 春 op.38- 舒曼

[@lovning]

2:21 5:43 10:25

[@buckohoh]

13:30 ignore this

[@thechosenone3197]

Can you do Symphony No. 3 “Rhenish” by Schumann as well please?

[@mateuspereira9288]

I genuinely thought there was already a version with the score!

[@thechosenone3197]

JLeightcap had a perfectly good version but his channel was taken down. ☹️

[@mateuspereira9288]

@@thechosenone3197 I'm currently working on another Schumann upload, but I'll do the 3rd too. Can you remember the recording?

[@thechosenone3197]

Thanks. No unfortunately but I may be able to find out for you.

[@thechosenone3197]

I think it could have been the Staatskapelle Dresden with Wolfgang Sawallisch.

[@user-ko7fr9ii4u]

0:11

[@boranmert4587]

9:20 chord progressions

[@lovning]

2:11

[@kiracp1296]

5:22 trait

[@kiracp1296]

5:57 trait 2

[@kiracp1296]

6:28

[@kiracp1296]

1:43

[@kiracp1296]

9:30

[@kiracp1296]

22:16

[@leonardopaladino744]

27:20

[@CamW0017]

horn solo

[@gamingmusicandjokesandabit1240]

The start of the 4th movement reminds me of the USSR anthem

[@michaelblumberg9178]

The last movement is way too fast!

[@eran2626]

Long and boring