Scherzo and Intermezzo
from String Quartet in A minor, Op. 41, No. 1 (1842)
Robert Schumann (1810–1856)
Woodwind Quartet: Fl, Ob. Cl. Bn.

Scherzo and Intermezzo by Robert Schumann arranged for Woodwind Quartet: Fl, Ob. Cl. Bn. This is the second movement of Schumann’s first string quartet, String Quartet in A minor, Opus 41, Number 1. Scherzo and Intermezzo is a short study in contrasts. The scherzo section is in 6/8 time and features a fast, lively tempo throughout – imagine galloping horses. The Intermezzo section is slightly slower (but not much) and more lyrical, in cut time. After the intermezzo concludes, we return to the racing triplets of the scherzo.

We offer arrangements of this work for the following ensembles. So long as parts one through four are covered, all parts are interchangeable. Mix and match parts to accommodate your available players. NOTE: The flute quartet is 1 octave higher than the others.

• saxophone quartet
• flute quartet
• clarinet quartet
• woodwind quartet

This arrangement of Scherzo and Intermezzo is for Woodwind Quartet: Fl, Ob. Cl. Bn. It is in the original key. The following parts are included:

• Woodwind Quartet score
• Flute
• Oboe
• Clarinet in B flat
• Clarinet in A (doubles B flat Cl. – not shown in score)
• Bassoon

NOTE: A slight cut has been made in the recapitulation, reducing the repeated material, and the performance time. The cut can be omitted to restore the complete movement. Performance time is increased to approximately 4 minutes. This is clearly noted in the score.

• Audio and score excerpts are available above.

About the Composer

Robert Schumann (1810–1856) was a pivotal German composer and music critic, a key figure in the Romantic era, known for his expressive piano pieces, lieder (art songs), and symphonies, and his marriage to pianist Clara Wieck.

Born in Zwickau, Saxony, his father was an author and bookseller, who encouraged his son’s love for literature alongside his musical talent. Robert initially studied law at the University of Leipzig, but his passion for music led him to abandon his legal studies and pusue music. After he developed problems with his right hand he had to focus on composition rather than performance.

Schumann’s early works, particularly his piano pieces, established him as a Romantic composer, known for their emotional depth and programmatic nature. He founded the Neue Zeitschrift für Musik (New Journal for Music) in 1834, as a platform for his musical criticism and analysis. His relationship with Clara Wieck, a talented pianist and the daughter of his piano teacher, Friedrich Wieck, was a defining aspect of his life. Their marriage in 1840, after a court battle, led to a period of intense creative output.

Schumann’s later years were marked by mental health struggles, including periods of depression and anxiety, which ultimately led to his hospitalization and death in 1856. Despite his personal struggles, his music continues to be celebrated and admired for its poetic sensibility and emotional depth.