The German word “Widmung” means dedication. Occasionally when the public has been particularly wild with praise about a musician’s performance, the performer will dedicate this wonderful song by Schumann to her adoring public.
Schumann starts this work with a flowing sense of pulse, while the first phrase (“Du meine Seele, du mein Herz”) already captures Schumann’s love for Clara Wieck and devotion to their relationship.
Here, Schumann sincerely confesses to Clara, declaring how important she is to him. For him, Clara is his angel, his spiritual support, and his entire world.
Nevertheless, there is still a sense of fear and insecurity in the music, due to separation and uncertainty about their future. This complex mixture of feelings, as a true and full-bodied representation of love, certainly strengthens the emotional power of the music.
Franz Liszt later arranged this song for solo piano, and we dedicate this music to you, as played by pianist Martha Argerich:
