Tchaikovsky
www.tchaikovsky-research.net


Home > Works > Arrangements > Ballade vom Haideknaben (Schumann)

Ballade vom Haideknaben

Вещий сон

Declamation with piano by Robert Schumann (Op. 122, No. 1), arranged for orchestra (1874).

Catalogue References TH 184 ; ČW 415 (as "Prophetic Dream")
Date February 1874
Text Friedrich Hebbel (1813–1867), from his poem Der Heideknabe (1844), in an anonymous Russian translation as Prophetic Dream (Вещий сон)
Language Russian
Tempo/Section Listing [Ziemlich bewegt] (B minor, 98 bars)
Instrumentation Reciter + 2 Flutes, 2 Oboes, 2 Clarinets (A), 2 Bassoons + 4 Horns (F), 2 Trumpets (F), 2 Trombones, Tuba + Timpani + Violins I, Violins II, Violas, Cellos, Double Basses
First Performance Moscow, 7/19 April 1874, by Ivan Samarin, conducted by Nikolai Rubinstein
Autograph Location Lost
First Publication Moscow: Muzyka, 1970
Average Duration 5 minutes
Notes The Ballade vom Haideknaben was composed in 1852 by Robert Schumann (1810–1856), and published in 1853 as No. 1 of Zwei Balladen für Deklamation mit Begleitung des Pianoforte, Op. 122
External Links The Lied and Art Song Texts Page (text and translations)

History

This work was apparently carried out for a symphony concert of the Moscow branch of the Russian Musical Society, which took place on 7/19 April 1874. The text was recited by Ivan Samarin, and the orchestra was conducted by Nikolai Rubinstein.

The exact date of composition has not been determined. On a manuscript copy of the full score, Karl Albrecht wrote "P. Tchaikovsky. Prophetic Drean, ballad for orchestra, 27 February 1874" [O.S.].

From: Музыкальное наследие Чайковского (1958), p. 494
English text copyright © 2006 Brett Langston


This page was last updated on 14 November 2010