Schumann, Robert. (1810–1856)

Thème sur le nom Abegg varié pour le Pianoforte ... par R. Schumann. Op 1.

Leipzig: chez F. Kistner. [after 1840]. First edition, later issue.. 11 pp. Engraved throughout. [PN] 974. Unbound, as issued. The work was composed in 1829–30 and first published by Kistner in November 1831 with a price of 12 Gr. This later issue was repriced at 15 Ngr. Light toning, with one crease to title page. Overall very good. 10.25 x 13 inches (26 x 33 cm).

Schumann's op. 1 is a set of piano variations on a theme in F major, composed around a musical cryptogramm of the name "Abegg": the notes A–B flat–E–G–G. The work is dedicated to a Pauline, Comtesse d'Abegg, who is actually a fictional invention of Schumann's. It  is possible that Schumann may have known a real woman named Abegg, but it appears his interest lay more in the musical possibilities of the name rather than the woman attached to it. (See McCorkle, p. 3). (15943)
Printed Music
Classical Music