Full List of Schumann's Solo Piano Compositions
Note: When a number proceeds the title of a composition it is the place number in a poll from
TalkClassical.com of the best solo keyboard works ever written. For instance;
(#9) Fantasie in C, Op. 70
means that Schumann's Fantasie in C is considered by those poled to be the 9th best solo
keyboard composition of all time. Schumann had 9 of the top 100 solo keyboard compositions.
Selected Solo Piano Compositions (w/ approx. playing times):
(Schumann revised many of his works during his lifetime. In most cases it is the final
version that is played today.)
Abegg Variations, Op. 1 (1829- 1831) (8 min)
Schumann's first published composition. It is a set of variations where the first
five notes of the main theme are A, B♭ (B), E, G, and G.
(#87) Papillons (Butterflies), Op. 2 (1831) (15 min)
Schumann's first published program music composition. It is a set of dance tunes
(10 waltzes, 2 polonaises) meant to represent individuals at a masked ball. It is a
somewhat popular composition.
Toccata in C major, Op. 7 (1832) (7:00)
This torrential outpouring of emotion (anger? desperation?) is one of the most
technically difficult of all pieces of piano music ever written. Its musical merits
have been widely debated.
(#34) Carnaval, Op. 9 (1834–1835) (28 min)
Subtitled Scènes mignonnes sur quatre notes (Little Scenes on Four Notes),
Carnival consists of 21 short pieces representing masked revelers at Carnival,
a festival before Lent. Schumann gives musical expression to himself, his
friends and colleagues, and characters from improvised Italian comedy
(commedia dell'arte). It is a fairly popular work of Schumann's.
Boris Giltburg, piano (32 min) (Play)
(#36) Études symphoniques (Symphonic Studies), Op. 13 (1834) (31 min)
A 13 piece mixture of theme and variations format and concert etudes. It is a
very popular Schumann work, but is less famous than Franz Liszt's
Transcendental Études or Frédéric Chopin's two sets of Études.
Valentina Lisitsa, piano (32 min) (Play)
(#117) Fantasiestücke, Op. 12 (1837) (25 min)
This composition was inspired by E.T.A. Hoffman's collections of writings on
music called Fantasiestücke in Callots Manier.
Seong-Jin Cho (29 min) (Play)
(#20) Davidsbündlertänze, Op. 6 (1837) (32 min)
Dances of the League of David refers to Schumann's imaginary music society.
The 18 pieces were written by Eusibius and Floristan, the names of two
composers of different personalities in Schumann's mind. This is one of
Schumann's most admired works.
Boris Berezovsky, piano (34 min) (Play)
(#46) Kinderszenen (Scenes From Childhood), Op. 15 (1838) (18 min)
Schumann described this set of 13 short movements describing childhood as
"more cheerful, gentler, more melodic" than his earlier works. Movement
No. 7 of the work, Träumerei, is one of Schumann's best known pieces.
This is a fairly popular Schumann work.
Vladimir Horwitz (18 min) (Play)
(#22) Kreisleriana, Op. 16 (1838) (32 min)
Johannes Kreisler is one of E. T. A. Hoffmann's literary creations,"an eccentric,
wild, and witty conductor." Like the kaleidoscopic Kreisler, each of the twelve
movements has multiple contrasting sections, resembling the imaginary musician's
manic depression, and recalling Schumann's own "Florestan" and "Eusebius."
Schumann several times declared Kreisleriana his favorite composition and
it is considered one of Schumann's greatest compositions and is extremely popular.
it is considered one of Schumann's greatest compositions and is extremely popular.
Yuja Wang, piano (32 min) (Play)
(# 9) Fantasie in C, Op. 17 (1836, revised 1839) (30 min)
A three movement work similar to a piano sonata, but the last movement is
unusual because it is a slow movement. Another very popular and
highly regarded Schumann composition.
Alexei Volodin, piano (32 min) (Play)
Nachtstücke (Night Pieces), Op. 23 (1838)
These four short pieces were composed after Schumann learned of his brother's impending
death. They are darker than many of Schumann's other works and some are beautiful. But
they are not very widely known or played often.
Arabeske in C, Op. 18 (1839) (6 min)
This short piece is one of Schumann's most famous compositions.
Humoreske in B-flat, Op. 20 (1839) (28 min)
A seven movement work that has both strong admirers and strong
detractors among music critics.
Album für die Jugend (Album for the Young), Op. 68 (1848) (26 min)
Like Scenes from Childhood, these are pieces about the young. However, the first
19 of the 43 short pieces are written for children to play, the remainder are for adults.
This work isn't as widely known as Scenes from Childhood.
Waldszenen (Forest Scenes), Op. 82 (1848 - 1849) (24 min)
A set of nine short piano pieces that are known mostly only to Schumann
enthusiasts.
Geistervariationen (Ghost Variations), WoO 24 (1854) (11 min)
This work was composed during the time Schumann's mental issues were severe
and he attempted suicide. It is rarely played or recorded anymore.
Piano Sonatas:
Schumann's sonatas are not as highly regarded as Beethoven's, or even Chopin's
three or Liszt's one. They are, however, good sonatas. No.3 is the most popular
of the three, No. 1 has a highly unusual structure.
(#97) Piano Sonata No.1 in F# minor, Op.11 (1833 - 35) (31:00)
Piano Sonata No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22 (1833–1835) (17:00)
(#64) Piano Sonata No. 3 in F minor, Op. 14 "Concerto Without Orchestra" (1836, rev. 1853) (30:30)
Maurizo Pollini, piano (14 min) (Play)
Arabeske in C, Op. 18 (1839) (6 min)
This short piece is one of Schumann's most famous compositions.
Humoreske in B-flat, Op. 20 (1839) (28 min)
A seven movement work that has both strong admirers and strong
detractors among music critics.
Album für die Jugend (Album for the Young), Op. 68 (1848) (26 min)
Like Scenes from Childhood, these are pieces about the young. However, the first
19 of the 43 short pieces are written for children to play, the remainder are for adults.
This work isn't as widely known as Scenes from Childhood.
Waldszenen (Forest Scenes), Op. 82 (1848 - 1849) (24 min)
A set of nine short piano pieces that are known mostly only to Schumann
enthusiasts.
Geistervariationen (Ghost Variations), WoO 24 (1854) (11 min)
This work was composed during the time Schumann's mental issues were severe
and he attempted suicide. It is rarely played or recorded anymore.
Piano Sonatas:
Schumann's sonatas are not as highly regarded as Beethoven's, or even Chopin's
three or Liszt's one. They are, however, good sonatas. No.3 is the most popular
of the three, No. 1 has a highly unusual structure.
(#97) Piano Sonata No.1 in F# minor, Op.11 (1833 - 35) (31:00)
Piano Sonata No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22 (1833–1835) (17:00)
(#64) Piano Sonata No. 3 in F minor, Op. 14 "Concerto Without Orchestra" (1836, rev. 1853) (30:30)
Maurizo Pollini, piano (14 min) (Play)
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