In November, The Journey Writer collaborated with Robert Schumann on the project “Music Lesson with Robert Schumann”. Robert Schumann (1810 – 1856) was known as a musician, a composer. In fact, he was also an excellent writer! Among his many writings, he has written “Advice to Young Musicians” in year 1848 alongside with his piano composition “Album for the Young, Op. 68”. If you learned piano, you might have played “The Happy Farmer”, which is belong to the Op. 68.
On this “Music Lesson with Robert Schumann” project, I am reflecting on Schumann’s advices, also I am sharing about how they are relevant to me and to my personal experiences.
Q&A Session
Would you please tell us more about your co-author Mr. Schumann’s music composition?
He composed piano works, vocal works, choral works, orchestral works, chamber works. The fact that I like literature and music, I appreciate his art songs the most. He was talented in literature and music as well, and both his talents are culminated in his art songs. “A Poet’s Love” song cycle is my favourite so far, the texts are written by Heinrich Heine.
Other than that, because I am learning organ, I researched if he had written anything for organ. Unfortunately, not specifically for organ, but his Op. 56, “Studies in the Form of Canons for Organ or Pedal Piano” could be played on organ. Which I wish to learn one day. If he had lived longer, maybe he would write some organ music.
For thorough information about my co-author, please refer to the two articles (link) at the bottom of this post.
Where do the ideas come from?
This is originally not my idea. I read Steven Isserlis (Cellist) ‘s books, one of his books is about Robert Schumann’s “Advice to young musicians”. In the book, he is commenting on Schumann’s “Advice to young musicians” as a contemporary musician. This made me start thinking about my own experiences, that’s what the project is about here. Steven Isserlis is a worldwide celebrated cellist, I play organ with 2 years working experiences as church musician, you might play another instrument and with your own experiences, the most interesting thing is each reflection is unique.
“Advice to young musicians”, how would this be relevant to non-musician reader that no more young?
I realised the wisdoms of Schumann is applicable to my daily life. His timeless wisdoms are not only for music, but generally for being a human.
What do you hope this project can reach?
I hope this project could inspire my readers to observe their life experiences, write their own reflection. What they agree or not agree with Schumann and why?
I would like to close this Q & A session with a quote from Steven Isserlis:
So why, then, does it matter? Why do we care so much about Schumann – not just the composer, but also the man and his fate? Because he makes us care. He makes us care by drawing us in through his music, inviting us to understand, to love him. As he himself put it: “Love me well…I ask for much, because I give much.”
The complicated musical genius of Robert Schumann – Steven Isserlis
Robert Schumann war eine musikalisch-literarische Doppelbegabung, ein „Eingeborener in beiden Ländern“, wie Franz Liszt es formuliert hat.
Eine Lange Nacht über Robert Schumann – Beate Bartlewski
Homepage for “Music Lesson with Robert Schumann” click here: