Fantasiestücke (Fantasy Pieces), Op. 73

Quick Facts

• Written and published in 1849
• Suite of three pieces for clarinet (or violin or cello) and piano:
  1. Zart und mit Ausdruck (Delicate and with expression)
  2. Lebhaft, leicht (Lively, light)
  3. Rasch und mit Feuer (Fast and with fire)¹

About the Piece

• Though the piece functions as a compact suite, of sorts, there is a unified, cyclical nature when played as a complete work. For example, musical ideas from the first movement are repeated in a new context in the third.
• Schumann published these pieces for clarinet (the instrument it was originally written for) as well as for violin and cello to maximize potential sales.²
• Fun fact – the original title of the piece was Soiréestücke (Soirée pieces).
  • Additional fun fact – According to the composer, 1849 was the most fruitful year of his compositional career.³

1. “Fantasiestücke, Op.73 (Schumann, Robert),” IMSLP, accessed March 1, 2023, https://imslp.org/wiki/Fantasiest%C3%BCcke%2C_Op.73_(Schumann%2C_Robert).
2. Richard Wigmore, Notes in accompanying booklet, Schumann: Chamber Music performed by The Nash Ensemble, Hyperion 67923, 2012, compact disc.
3. Ernst Herttrich, “Fantasy Pieces op. 73 for Piano and Clarinet,” G. Henle Verlag (2005), accessed March 1, 2023, https://www.henle.de/media/foreword/0421.pdf.