Violin Sonata No. 3 (Schumann)

Violin Sonata No. 3
by Robert Schumann
Key	A minor
Catalogue	WoO 2
Period	Romantic
Genre	Sonata
Composed	1853
Published	1956
Duration	20 minutes
Movements	4
Scoring	Violin and piano

Violin Sonata No. 3 in A minor, WoO 2, is a four-movement work by Robert Schumann for violin and piano. The sonata was composed in 1853 but not fully published until 1956. The work runs approximately 20 minutes.^[1]

Composition

The Intermezzo and Finale of the sonata were originally written for the F-A-E Sonata which was a joint composition by Schumann, Johannes Brahms, and Albert Dietrich. As a result, these two movements use the notes F, A, and E as a motive throughout. Schumann later added his own first and second movements to make the complete sonata. The work was played privately in 1853 and 1854 but was not published until 1956, a century after the composer's death.^[2][3] The sonata is Schumann's last surviving work.^[4]

Structure

The work consists of four movements:^[1]

1. Ziemlich langsam – A minor
2. Scherzo – D minor
3. Intermezzo – F major
4. Finale – A minor

Publication

While Schumann's inner circle initially received the work positively, it was kept from publication until well after the composer's death. In 1859, Clara Schumann wrote to publisher Julius Schuberth [de], "I have decided not to publish the whole Sonata, only the 2nd and 3rd movements... but I reserve the right to decide the title." After Joseph Joachim reviewed the movements to prepare them for publication, he advised Clara not to publish the work. She subsequently withdrew her offer to the publisher.^[5]

The work was eventually published by the Heinrichshofen publishing house, many years after the composer's death.^[5]: 7

References

1. IMSLP
2. Hanlon, Richard (2025-02-03). "Schumann: Violin Sonatas". MusicWeb International (review of Hyperion CDA68354 with Alina Ibragimova (violin) and Cédric Tiberghien (piano)). Retrieved 2025-05-29.
3. "Violin Sonata No 3 in A minor, WoO27 (Schumann)" (arrangement by Steven Isserlis for cello and piano). Hyperion Records. CDA67661. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
4. In Mo Yang (4 November 2016). "Violin Sonata No. 3 in A minor, WoO 2". classicalconnect.com (program note). Retrieved 2025-05-29.
5. Brienslack, John Peyton (2019). Violin Technique and Pedagogy in Robert Schumann's Violin Sonata No. 3 in A minor, WoO 2 (PDF) (doctor of musical arts). University of Georgia. p. 8. Retrieved 29 May 2025.

External links

• Violin Sonata No. 3, WoO 2 (Robert Schumann): Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
• Live performance on YouTube, In Mo Yang (violin), Renana Gutman (piano)