Symphony No. 4 in D minor, Op. 120
Robert Schumann
Work background
Researched classical background
Schumann's Fourth joins its movements through recurring material and close transitions. Themes are transformed rather than left behind when a new section begins, giving the symphony a strongly cyclical shape. The familiar revised score is more densely orchestrated than the original version. Its number can be misleading: the first version belongs to Schumann's early burst of symphonic composition in 1841.
A listening guide
Notice themes returning in a different tempo or texture and the transition that prepares the finale.
Listening suggestions are editorial guides to the music.
Forces: Orchestra
Composition: 1841 original version; revised 1851
Numbering follows publication history, so the Fourth was initially composed before Schumann's Second and Third.
This entry describes the musical work or cycle. Composition, premiere and publication dates describe different events. Performers and recordings can be explored through the external listening search.
Date, title and version notes
The 1841 and 1851 versions differ in orchestration and detail.
Symphony No. 4 - LA Phil
Work identity, chronology where stated, and the specific musical or historical context summarized in this entry. | Reviewed 2026-10-19
Sources for this work
Symphony No. 4 - LA Phil
Work identity, chronology where stated, and the specific musical or historical context summarized in this entry. | Reviewed 2026-10-19
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