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Chapter 5 - Albums and Memorabilia

from Part I - Family and Friends

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 December 2025

Joe Davies
Affiliation:
New York University Abu Dhabi
Roe-Min Kok
Affiliation:
McGill University, Montréal
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Summary

This chapter examines a commemorative album created by Clara and Robert Schumann for their student Emilie Steffens in 1850. The album’s contents – including manuscripts from prominent composers, Robert’s complex collage of musical fragments and poetry, and concert programs documenting Steffens’ performances – functioned as more than mere keepsakes. Indeed, they served as deliberate means to construct Steffens’ musical identity and validate her status in the world of serious art music. Robert’s inscription, featuring excerpts from his major works linked to specific performances Steffens attended, demonstrates how he and Clara embedded lived musical experiences within material objects. Their inclusion of concert programs from Steffens’s brief public career further reinforced her privileged position as Clara’s student and an emerging pianist. Through their careful selection and arrangement of these materials, the Schumanns created a tangible monument that both commemorated their relationship with Steffens and constructed her lasting musical legacy.

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