With her Variations de Concert (1837), Clara Schumann created one of the most formidable virtuoso works of her generation. Composed at age eighteen and premiered in Vienna, the piece rivals the bravura fantasies of Liszt and Thalberg in scope and technical challenge. Based on a cavatina from Bellini’s Il pirata, the work unfolds in a dramatic arc: from a solemn introduction and lyrical theme to four increasingly complex variations and a fiery finale. A striking Adagio quasi fantasia at the centre provides expressive contrast with its sweeping arpeggios and operatic tone.
Dedicated to Adolf von Henselt, the work speaks to Clara’s engagement with the concert tradition and her command of large forms. Each variation poses its own pianistic demands—leaps, double notes, hand crossings—yet all are anchored in expressive intent. This Urtext edition brings to light a work of extraordinary ambition, and a testament to the technical and creative powers of a young composer determined to claim her place on the European stage.
An Urtext edition presents the music as faithfully as possible to the composer’s intentions. It is based on all available primary sources—first editions, autograph manuscripts, and reliable contemporary copies—and reproduces the musical text without arbitrary additions or editorial rewriting. At Felix Editions, editorial intervention is limited to the correction of obvious errors and is documented in the critical notes, ensuring historical accuracy together with practical clarity for performers.
For lesser-known composers, surviving sources are often exceptionally rare—sometimes only a single print or manuscript. Preparing an Urtext under such conditions requires careful reconstruction and cross-verification of fragmentary evidence. Our editions therefore combine scholarly rigour with curatorial work, making otherwise inaccessible music available in its most authentic form.
Each publication is produced to high standards of clarity, durability, and aesthetic refinement. Scores are printed on archival-grade, acid-free paper, chosen for its pleasant texture, natural colour, and stability over time.
Depending on page count, albums appear in two formats:
– Saddle-stitched for shorter works;
– Black wire binding for larger volumes, allowing pages to turn easily and remain open on the stand.
Every title is beautifully typeset to enhance both appearance and usability. Proportion and spacing are carefully balanced for legibility; page turns are planned so that, wherever possible, they avoid technically demanding passages. The result is a publication that is as pleasing to the eye as it is to play or read.
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