Robert Schumann and his literary inspiration Several of Schumann’s piano works were inspired by literary works, including his Waldszenen, Papillons and Kreisleriana.

The son of a publisher, Schumann grew up surrounded by literature; he was extremely well-read and also wrote poetry. He wrote in his diary that he had felt the need to create something, if not with music then with words. Clearly a musician who was also a man of letters.

Music and literature are inseparable in Schumann’s creative spirit: many of his compositions were based on literary woks, although these pieces were never literal transcriptions in sound of the original text. Schumann took rather the ideas behind the work; his fantasy and powers of expression then transformed them into sound.

This DSD recording explores Schumann’s deeply poetic and richly imaginative sound world.

Mitsuko Saruwatari – Piano