The Schumanns

I’m singing in a concert on Friday night, works by Clara and Robert Schumann. They were married in 1840, and the following year published this set of 12 songs and duets (Op. 37) together, which are basically love notes to each other: ‘I love you dear, you’re a super composer,’ or ‘Oh, Robbie, I just don’t know if I’m good enough!’ Only instead of those words they talk about the Sun and Tears and Hearts and Storms and Pearls.

Anyway, I completely suck. I don’t get this music at all. The text is unabashed, love-me-forever-and-I’ll-do-the-same type stuff, which I find not in the least offensive. It’s okay to be a little optimistic, right? What I don’t get is how the music can be as simple as it is, and still be dramatic. I hate sucking at music.