schumann-geistervariationen-maintheme-firstvar.mp3 Schumann Ghost Variations - The last composition of Robert Schumann as he was going mad. He reported that he had heard this music from angels and that same week threw himself into the freezing February Rhine. He dedicated it to his wife Clara, who kept it to herself, sharing it only with Johannes Brahms. It was first published in 1939. I think he felt that some of the other variations were brought to him by demons. Late in life Brahms wrote variations on this theme as well for piano 4 hands. Also very moving.
Da Unten im Thale is a German Folksong that was harmonized by Johannes Brahms.
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