The ''Davidsbündler'' (League of David) was a music
society
A society is a Social group, group of individuals involved in persistent Social relation, social interaction, or a large social group sharing the same spatial or social territory, typically subject to the same Politics, political authority an ...
created by
Robert Schumann
Robert Schumann (; 8 June 181029 July 1856) was a German composer, pianist, and influential music critic. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest composers of the Romantic era. Schumann left the study of law, intending to pursue a career a ...
in his writings.
It was inspired by
literary societies
A literary society is a group of people interested in literature. In the modern sense, this refers to a society that wants to promote one genre of writing or a specific author. Modern literary societies typically promote research, publish newsle ...
, real and imagined ones, such as the ''Serapionsbrüder'' (
The Serapion Brethren) of
ETA Hoffmann.
[Daverio, John. ''Robert Schumann: Herald of a "New Poetic Age"''. Oxford University Press, 1997. ] The group was created to defend the cause of contemporary music against its detractors. Its two main members were supposed to be named Florestan and Eusebius, respectively symbolising the extroverted and introspective sides of his personality.
[Schonberg, Harold C. ''The Lives of the Great Composers'', p. 177. W.W. Norton, 1997.]
The name "Davidsbündler" already appears in Schumann's first musical essay, "The Davidsbündler" which was published in Karl Herloßsohn’s newspaper "Der Komet" (The Comet) in December 1833. Its narrator finds a paper shred thrown out of a window by a "Swedish head with a crooked nose" bearing the following message on its backside: "Finder! To the Good and to the Great you have been chosen! Davidsbündler you shall become,
ou shall
OU or Ou or ou may stand for:
Universities United States
* Oakland University in Oakland County, Michigan
* Oakwood University in Huntsville, Alabama
* Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, Georgia
* Ohio University in Athens, Ohio
* Olivet Universi ...
translate the secrets of the Society of the World, i.e. of the society, which shall swat the Philistines, musical and otherwise! Here you know all – take action then! By no means organize provincially however, but deliver wildly and crazily! Master Raro, Florestan, Eusebius, Friedrich, Bg., St., Hf., Knif, bellows treader at St. Georg." The continuation of this "Davidsbündler" fantasizing can be found in the ''
Neue Zeitschrift für Musik
'Die'' (; en, " heNew Journal of Music") is a music magazine, co-founded in Leipzig by Robert Schumann, his teacher and future father-in law Friedrich Wieck, and his close friend Ludwig Schuncke. Its first issue appeared on 3 April 1834.
Histo ...
'', which Schumann founded in April 1834.
[Geck, Martin. ''Robert Schumann: Mensch und Musiker der Romantik''. Siedler Verlag, 2010.]
In the same year 1834 Schumann composed three pieces carrying the titles "Florestan", "Eusebius" and "Marche des Davidsbündler contre les Philistins" in his ''
Carnaval
Carnival is a Catholic Christian festive season that occurs before the liturgical season of Lent. The main events typically occur during February or early March, during the period historically known as Shrovetide (or Pre-Lent). Carnival typi ...
''.
In 1837 Schumann wrote a piano suite, ''
Davidsbündlertänze
''Davidsbündlertänze'' (''Dances of the League of David''), Op. 6, is a group of eighteen pieces for piano composed in 1837 by Robert Schumann, who named them after his music society Davidsbündler. The low opus number is misleading: the work ...
'', Op. 6, named after the Davidsbündler.
Notes
References
*David Ewen, ''Encyclopedia of Concert Music''. New York; Hill and Wang, 1959.
*Eisenberg, Evan, "The Recording Angel". Yale University Press; 1987
Fictional organizations
Robert Schumann
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