Geistervariationen

The Ghost Variations ( Theme with Variations in E flat major for piano), WoO 24, composed in 1854, is the last work of Robert Schumann, before he was admitted to the mental hospital Bonn- Endenich. " Schumann imagined himself in those days spirits surround him sometimes, wonderful ', partly horrible ' darboten music that him glorious revelations ' promised, but throw him into hell [ to ] ' threatened, as the [ ... ] listed worried wife. "

Formation

Clara Schumann in her diary: " [ In the night of 17 to 18 February ] Robert stood up again and wrote a theme that sang to him the spirits of Schubert and Mendelssohn, and on which he for me [ the records of Clara Schumann Ruppert and Becker According probably 22-23. February ], as well as touching poignant variations made ​​. "While this composition he threw himself suddenly on February 27, and only half dressed in the icy Rhine, from which he was rescued and brought back home. After surviving a suicide attempt he was working on. A day later, he joined then from his so dramatically interrupted work and sent the manuscript of his wife, who was already the night before dragged on medical advice to a friend.

Aribert Reimann is quite certain, Schumann's leap into the Rhine was made between the fourth and fifth variation, since the last variation differs structurally entirely from the preceding, and he noticed that there is already similar to find the topic in Schumann's Violin Concerto.

Quoted in the following works

• Brahms: Op.23, Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann, piano, 4 hands

• Aribert Reimann: Seven Fragments for orchestra in memory of Robert Schumann ( 1988)
• Tori Amos: Your Ghost (2011)

Expenditure

• Henle Urtext Edition, 1995, Edited by Wolf -Dieter Seiffert / fingering by Klaus shields, ISMN 201 804 828, HN -482, HENLE01114