Piano Concerto in A minor Op. 54 (Edition for 2 Pianos) Cover Image

Piano Concerto in A minor Op. 54 (Edition for 2 Pianos): Piano x2, 4 Hands

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Piano Concerto in A minor Op. 54 (Edition for 2 Pianos) Cover Image

Piano Concerto in A minor Op. 54 (Edition for 2 Pianos): Piano x2, 4 Hands

By Robert Schumann / ed. Michael Musgrave

Item: 98-EP71819

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New Urtext Edition by Michael Musgrave

Schumann's Piano Concerto traces its origins, through the first movement, to a single-movement Phantasie in A minor for piano and orchestra which was completed in May 1841 (his "symphonic year") and revised at the beginning of 1843. Clara Schumann, who had long wanted a major work for piano and orchestra from Schumann, played through the Phantasie with the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra in 1841 but, although she played it again in 1843, it was never publicly performed, nor a publisher found, even though they were both happy with the work.

In the summer of 1845 in Dresden, where they had now moved, Schumann revised the Phantasie and added a second and third movement to form what is described on the surviving manuscript of the full score as "Concerto for piano . . . with accompaniment . . .". It was premiered on 4 December 1845 at a special Clara Schumann concert with Dresden musicians, independent of the regular subscription concerts, conducted by their friend and supporter Ferdinand Hiller, the dedicatee. The performance was critically successful, and a second performance was arranged at the more prestigious Leipzig Gewandhaus at the 11th subscription concert on New Year's Day 1846, under its conductor Mendelssohn. This performance was an even greater success than the first, and quickly established itself as a repertory work. Schumann made corrections to the orchestral parts for the performance he conducted with Clara at the Lower Rhine Music Festival in May 1853.

The history of the work is dominated by Clara Schumann's promotion of it over a period of 40 years or so. Robert Schumann never played the work, since he had given up public performance by the time of its composition. All evidence is that Clara played it to his great satisfaction, and it was obviously meant for her.

This Urtext edition by Schumann scholar Michael Musgrave contains a preface in English, German and French, an exemplary musical text, and a critical commentary. Contains a secondo piano reduction of the orchestral accompaniment (two copies required for performance).

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Additional Details
Series: Edition Peters
Publisher: Edition Peters
Page Count: 116
ISBN10: 0-577-08722-3
ISBN13: 979-0-577-08722-1
UPC: 9790577087221
SKU: 98-EP71819

More about this title

About the Composer: Robert Schumann

Robert Schumann (1810, 1856) stands among the most prolific and imaginative composers of the 19th century, reshaping what the piano could express both as a solo instrument and in collaboration with orchestra. His output spans nearly every genre, but his keyboard works and orchestral-chamber hybrids reveal a composer fascinated by the dialogue between intimate lyricism and symphonic architecture. In the 1840s, his most productive decade, Schumann channeled the influence of Beethoven and Bach into works of extraordinary harmonic sophistication and emotional depth.

As a music educator, Schumann's legacy extends beyond his scores. He wrote extensively about music, founded a journal to champion new composers, and created pedagogical keyboard works that remain central to piano training. His intimate knowledge of his wife Clara's artistry as a virtuoso pianist shaped many of his best works, including this concerto, which stands as a bridge between the Classical concerto tradition and the Romantic piano literature that followed.

Why we love this

The two-piano version opens this masterwork to collaborative programming without requiring orchestra. What makes this Urtext edition distinctive is Michael Musgrave's scrupulous attention to Schumann's own revisions across the work's decade-long evolution, capturing the composer's final intentions. For pianists at the advanced student and professional level, the work's cycling between lyrical introspection and virtuosic display rewards both players equally, creating a genuine partnership rather than a soloist-plus-accompaniment dynamic.

What to expect

The concerto unfolds with the introspective energy of a composer wrestling with form itself. The first movement emerges from that earlier Phantasie like a thought being reconsidered and deepened, warm and searching rather than externally virtuosic. Between the two added movements, Schumann creates a space for genuine repose and lyrical confession, before the finale launches into brilliant, forward-driving optimism that never loses its lyrical core.

Who it's for

Advanced pianists seeking substantial four-hand or two-piano repertoire that offers both technical challenge and musical depth. Teachers and conservatory programs will value this as a gateway to the full concerto literature and as a vehicle for studying Schumann's compositional refinement. Chamber music ensembles and piano duo teams looking for 19th-century works with real symphonic scope will find rich material here.

How to get the most out of it

  • Balance the dialogue between the two pianos carefully, especially in the first movement's opening theme. The 'orchestra' part should provide warmth and harmonic color rather than overshadowing the solo line.
  • Pay close attention to Schumann's tempo markings and their relationships across sections. The interplay between the Allegro affettuoso, the inner movements, and the finale requires clear tempo architecture to maintain the work's architectural cohesion.
  • Coordinate pedaling between both pianos so that harmonic colors blend seamlessly. This is particularly important in the Intermezzo, where romantic sonority depends on sensitive shared resonance.
  • The virtuosic passage work demands rhythmic lock between the pianists. Practice these sections hands-together (both players on one piano) before attempting them at separate instruments to ensure genuine ensemble precision.

How to use it

Position this work as the centerpiece of a recital exploring Schumann's evolving relationship with the piano concerto genre, pairing it with solo works or chamber music from different periods of his career. For educational purposes, use it as a capstone project for advanced students completing a survey of 19th-century keyboard literature. It also serves well on concert programs celebrating piano partnerships or two-piano literature, where it stands alongside later Romantic and early 20th-century works in the same instrumentation.

Skills your students will build

  • Balancing independence and coordination in two-piano ensemble writing
  • Reading and executing Romantic-era pedal notation with historical awareness
  • Sustaining lyrical singing tone while maintaining rhythmic integrity across four hands
  • Understanding formal architecture in extended single-movement forms (the first movement's Phantasie origins)
  • Navigating multiple tempo relationships and metric subtleties typical of Schumann's compositional language
  • Interpreting Schumann's harmonic language, including chromatic voice-leading and unexpected tonal shifts

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