Composed: 1841
Premiered: 1841, Leipzig
Duration: 29 minutes

The symphony we now know as Schumann’s Fourth had its genesis in 1841, about the same time as his First. When the early version was performed at a concert in which the pianist Franz Liszt also played, its reception was cool. Perhaps Liszt’s flamboyant pianism outshone Schumann’s music. At any rate, Schumann withdrew the score, but brought it out again in 1851 in a much-revised form. 

In this symphony, Schumann employed techniques similar to Liszt’s; the musical thought is highly compressed, everything being derived from a few ideas stated at the outset. Unlike in his three other symphonies, Schumann did not provide any literary clues to help the listener interpret it. Privately, however he referred to this as the “Clara Symphony.” The opening motive, which provides the impetus for the whole work, was associated in his mind with his wife, Clara.

Program note by the late Dr. C.W. Helleiner