134. Schumann, Robert. Autograph letter signed (“Dr. Rob. Schumann”), in German, 1 page (8.37 x 5.37 in.; 213 x 137 mm.), Dresden, 20 October 1847, to Karl Simrock; docketed integral address leaf addressed in Schumann’s hand.

Schumann requests Lieder from Karl Simrock.

The German composer writes to Karl Simrock, the German writer, asking for poems. Schumann was especially noted for the art of song writing, and was probably collaborating with Simrock at this time. Simrock established his reputation by his excellent modern rendering of the Nibelungenlied (1827), and of the poems of Walther von der Vogelweide (1833). Among other works translated by him into modern German were the Arme Heinrich of Hartmann von Aue (1830), the Parzival and Titurel of Wolfram von Eschenbach (1842), the Tristan of Gottfried von Strassburg (1855) and the Heldenbuch (1843–1849), which he supplemented with independent poems. Before the publication of this work he had shown an original poetical faculty in Wieland der Schmied (1835); and in 1844 he issued a volume of Gedichte in which there are many good lyrics, romances and ballads. In 1850 appeared Lauda Sion, and in 1857 the Deutsche Sionsharfe, collections of Old German sacred poetry.
$3,000 - $5,000