Schumann and Zaimont

Synopsis

On today’s date in 1830, 11-year-old piano virtuoso Clara Wieck took the stage of the Leipzig Gewandhaus for her first solo recital. Her father was a piano teacher, who had prepared Clara for a solo career since infancy.

This was the age of the great composer-pianists Franz Liszt and Frederic Chopin, and little Clara also wrote original works for her performances. Her Four Polonaises was published the following year. Her career as a composer and performer would eventually span five decades, and, like her father, she became one of the most famous piano teachers of her time.

Nowadays, composer-performers are more common in the world of jazz than classical music, although there are exceptions. One of them is Judith Lang Zaimont, who, like Schumann, developed a triple career as composer, performer and teacher.

“Composing is the central fact of my life. My music seeks to appeal both to the heart (the ‘Ahh!’ response) and to the head (the ‘Aha!’ response). When this mix is just right, I can sense it — and reactions from audiences can be positive, too,” she said.

Music Played in Today's Program

Clara Schumman (1819-1896): Four Polonaises; Josef de Beenhouwer, piano; CPO 999 758

Judith Lang Zaimont (b. 1945): “September” from Calendar Collection; Judith Lang Zaimont, piano; Four Tay 4001