Was Schumann's music too emotional?
To call music 'too emotional' is like saying poetry is too passionate. My music, and indeed all true art, is meant to stir the soul, to awaken the dormant feelings within us. If it is perceived as an excess of emotion, perhaps it is because the listener is not attuned to the subtle nuances, the delicate interplay of light and shadow that defines the human experience. Florestan's impetuosity and Eusebius's tenderness are not extremes to be shunned, but facets of a rich inner life that music can beautifully reflect.
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