Presenter Information

Jacob Litt, University of Richmond

Location

University of Richmond, Richmond, Virginia

Document Type

Paper (UR Campus Access Only)

Description

Heinrich Heine is considered to be one of the most influential poets of the German Romantic period. Likewise, Robert Schumann, through his musical innovations and critiques, is considered to be one of the period's most influential composers. Both Heine and Schumann adhered to the philosophical and artistic norms of German Romanticism, while also further developing them. In Robert Schumann's song cycle Dichterliebe, which uses Heine's poetry from Lyrisches Intermezzo, Schumann transforms the meaning of Romantic themes within Heine's text through his use of melody and harmony. Specifically, the themes of nature as moral good, dreams as fragments of experience, and moments of Romantic irony, or Stimmungsbruch, as revelations of emotional truth, gain new meaning in Schumann's song cycle, especially as they relate to the story of lost love.

Comments

Department: Music

Faculty mentor: Dr. Jennifer Cable

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Romantic Themes in Schumann's Dichterliebe: Heightening Heine's Poetry through Song

University of Richmond, Richmond, Virginia

Heinrich Heine is considered to be one of the most influential poets of the German Romantic period. Likewise, Robert Schumann, through his musical innovations and critiques, is considered to be one of the period's most influential composers. Both Heine and Schumann adhered to the philosophical and artistic norms of German Romanticism, while also further developing them. In Robert Schumann's song cycle Dichterliebe, which uses Heine's poetry from Lyrisches Intermezzo, Schumann transforms the meaning of Romantic themes within Heine's text through his use of melody and harmony. Specifically, the themes of nature as moral good, dreams as fragments of experience, and moments of Romantic irony, or Stimmungsbruch, as revelations of emotional truth, gain new meaning in Schumann's song cycle, especially as they relate to the story of lost love.