3 Songs

Clara Wieck, at nearly 21 a pianist celebrated throughout Europe, married Robert Schumann in 1840 after a long battle with her father, who opposed the match. She continued to perform and compose while raising their large family, and the couple sometimes worked on compositions in tandem, spurring one another on. In 1841, Clara created her Op. 12 set of three songs, settings of Friedrich Rückert; these and the nine songs of Robert’s Op. 37 formed the couple’s joint collection of works based on Rückert’s poetry. “Er ist gekommen”, which for many years was wrongly attributed to Robert, is a passionate outpouring in which the beloved’s arrival is compared to a winter storm. In contrast, “Liebst du um Schönheit” and “Warum willst du and’re fragen” overflow with warmth, showing Clara at her most melodically inspired.