Svendsen, Johan

Abendlied av Robert Schumann

Abendlied by Robert Schumann

([de]: Abendlied von Rob. Schumann für Streichorchester eingerichtet von Johan S. Svendsen)

Original title: Robert Schumann (1810-1856): 12 vierhändige Klavierstücke für kleine und grosse Kinder, op. 85, nr. 12: Abendlied.

JSV 47

Johan Svendsen arranged Robert Schumann‘s ‘Abendlied’, from 12 vierhändige Klavierstücke für kleine und grosse Kinder, Op. 85 in Darmstadt in 1872. The final score is dated 18 April of that year. It was published by Carl Warmuth in 1887. This was not the first time Svendsen had arranged a piece by Schumann. Träumerei also exists in an earlier version for string quartet as part of the collection 62 Arrangements for String Quartet, JSV 30, written between 1861 and 1862. This collection of arrangements includes nine different piano pieces by Schumann set for string quartet by Svendsen. In addition to ‘Träumerei’ from Kinderszenen, Op. 15, the fourth movement of Nachtstücke, Op. 23, and ‘Fughette’ from Klavier ­ stücke, Op. 32, we find ‘Kleine Fuge’, ‘Frühlings­gesang’ and ‘Fremder Mann’ from Album für die Jugend, Op. 68, and ‘Turniermarsch’, ‘Gespenstermärchen’ and ‘Geburtstagsmarsch’ from 12 vierhändige Klavierstücke für kleine und grosse Kinder, Op. 85. Svendsen’s most extensive Schumann arrangement dates from the summer of 1866, when he orchestrated Faschingsschwank aus Wien, Op. 26, for large orchestra.

Abendlied was premiered on 26 October 1872 in Christiania. Svendsen, his wife Sally (Bergljot) and her son Lucien had just returned to Norway after spending the summer in Donndorf near Bayreuth together with Richard and Cosima Wagner and their family. The performance took place in the large hall of Logen, with Svendsen conducting an orchestra assembled for the occasion. The piece was greeted with sustained applause and had to be played a second time.

Composition: 18 Apr. 1872.

Darmstadt

Ausdrucksvoll und sehr gehalten

Key: D♭ major

Extent: ca. 3 min.

Sources

A: Score, autograph

[Classification: notated music, manuscript, autograph, score, fair copy]

2 pages; 26x35 cm.

Hand ruled music paper, 16 staves
Pagination: 9–10
After the score: Darmstadt 18/4-72 . / JSvendsen

The score is placed after one of the autograph scores containing Svendsen’s orchestration of Wagner’s Träume

Written in ink (Johan Svendsen). Additions in blue crayon (Johan Svendsen).

N-Onm (National Library of Norway, Oslo, Norway) Mus.ms. 7890. Facsimile

B: Score, autograph

[Classification: notated music, manuscript, autograph, score, printer's copy]

4 pages; 34x26 cm.

Title page: Abendlied / von / Robert Schumann / für Streichorchester eingerichtet / von / Johan S. Svendsen

Hand ruled music paper, 20 staves
Pagination: 1–4
Above the score: Abendlied

Written in ink (Johan Svendsen). Additions in red crayon and blue crayon.

N-Onm (National Library of Norway, Oslo, Norway) Mus.ms. 7893. Facsimile

Provenance: On the index card in the library archive: Gave Norsk Musikforlag 10.1.1968. [Gift from Norsk Musikforlag 10 Jan. 1968.].

C: Printed score, first edition

[Classification: notated music, print, score, first edition]

Carl Warmuth, Christiania 1887.

Title page: Abendlied / von / ROBERT SCHUMANN / für Streichorchester eingerichtet / von / Johan S. Svendsen.

Pl. no. 1321.

C^PTS: Printed parts, first edition

[Classification: notated music, print, parts, first edition]

Carl Warmuth, Christiania 1887.

Pl. no. 1321.

Above each part: Abendlied / von / R. Schumann.

D: Printed score, Hansen edition

[Classification: notated music, print, score, later edition]

Wilhelm Hansen, København & Leipzig 1899.

Pl. no. 12612A.

Printed using the Warmuth plates

D^PTS: Printed parts, Hansen edition

[Classification: notated music, print, parts, later edition]

Wilhelm Hansen, København & Leipzig 1899.

Pl. no. 12612A.

Printed using the Warmuth plates

E: Printed score of Schumann's original

[Classification: notated music, print, score, first edition]

J. Schubert & Co., Leipzig und New York 1850.

Title page: 12 / vierhändige / Clavier-Stücke / für / kleine und grosse Kinder / von / Robert Schumann

Pl. no. 1400.

Primary texts

Letters:

10 Mar. 1884, Kjøbenhavn	from Johan Svendsen to Johan Selmer
10 Mar. 1884, Kjøbenhavn	from Johan Svendsen to Carl Warmuth, Nasjonalbiblioteket, Oslo Brevs. 126:73 . NBdigital