Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major, Op. 97 “Rhenish”

Quick Facts

• Symphony in five movements written in 1850 and premiered in Düsseldorf in 1851, conduced by the composer¹
• “Rhenish” means of the Rhine region

About the Piece

• In 1850, Robert Schumann had just moved to Düsseldorf after accepting a position as the city’s music director. The composer took a day trip to Cologne, where he became inspired by the city’s magnificent cathedral. The combination of Schumann’s adoration for his new home in the Rhineland, paired with the awe of the cathedral, led to the composition of his third symphony.
• Each movement captures a particular mood and scene.
  • The second movement was initially called “Morning on the Rhine.”
  • The solemn grandeur of the fourth movement is a direct reflection of Cologne’s cathedral and was originally titled, “In the character of an accompaniment to a solemn ceremony.”
• Sad fact – while Schumann’s initial relocation to Düsseldorf seemed to buoy his mental state and evoke optimism, the circumstances around his work would soon begin to wear heavily on him. In 1854, he famously attempted suicide by jumping into the Rhine.²

1. Symphony No.3, Op.97 (Schumann, Robert), IMSLP, accessed July 11, 2023, https://imslp.org/wiki/Symphony_No.3%2C_Op.97_(Schumann%2C_Robert).
2. John Mangum, “Symphony No. 3, in E-flat major, Op. 97, Rhenish,'” L. A. Phil, accessed July 11, 2023, https://www.laphil.com/musicdb/pieces/3966/symphony-no-3-in-e-flat-major-op-97-rhenish.