Robert’s Symphony No. 3, “Rhenish”

Today in our exploration of music by Clara and Robert Schumann, we are going to explore Robert’s Symphony No. 3, “Rhenish.” He composed it between November 2th and December 9th of 1850, in a bit more than a month.

This symphony is inspired by the Rhineland, as Schumann had recently moved there with his family. The symphony was written in a happy period of Robert’s life; it is very uplifting and full of optimism. As I listen to this symphony, it makes me both happy and sad. Happy because the music is very uplifting, sad because I realize these were the last happy years for Robert, as just a few years later, overcome by depression, he would try to commit suicide.