Three Fantasiestücke, Op. 111 (Schumann)
Movements
i Sehr rasch, mit leidenschaftlichem Vortrag, ii Ziemlich langsam, iii Kräftig und sehr markirt
Notes
The title was inspired by the collection of letters and writings about music published in 1814–1815, Fantasiestücke in Callots Manier by E. T. A. Hoffmann, one of Schumann’s favourite authors. The composer greatly appreciated the 17th-century engraver’s sense of fantasy.
Schumann composed the Op. 111 in 1851, a few months after his appointment as Generalmusikdirektor of the Düsseldorf Orchestra. In September, Clara Schumann wrote in her diary: “Robert has composed three piano pieces of a grave and passionate character which I like very much.”
