Träumerei

Notes

Träumerei explores the idea of a fleeting moment of time, and took inspiration from Robert Schumann’s expertise in capturing such moments. The title refers in equal measure to Schumann’s work and Harald Braun’s 1944 Nazi-propaganda film about the life of Clara Schumann. The juxtaposition between these two works and their politics brings to mind the fragility of cultural environment and heritage. During the composition of this work, on 15 April 2019, the Notre-Dame cathedral caught fire, and its spire tragically collapsed. As a tribute, the middle section of Träumerei echoes the church bells and polyphonic music of the 12th century Notre Dame school.