Robert Schumann’s last work for solo piano, Gesänge der Frühe Op. 133, is an unusual composition cycle that is difficult to appreciate upon first listen and is rarely performed live. In my master project, I am shining a light on this work in different contexts. This concert, the first part of my project, will be contemplative and circular in nature, much like the titular composition. It will figuratively follow the course of one day from the early morning through the night and finally through dawn again. Gesänge der Frühe (Morning Songs or Dawn Songs) will open and close the concert.
The last performance of Gesänge will be accompanied by a video with the theme of emerging and changing light. The lighting will vary based on the “part of day.” Accompanying texts will be shown briefly on the screen before each piece to enhance the feeling of time moving. Only the gist of the text will remain in the audience’s memory while they listen to the music.