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: Many musicologists' comments about Schumann have been in the "darnation-by-faint-praise" category. He is a musician's composer; his Fourth Symphony is the first truly "cyclic" symphonic work (not Franck's d-minor Symphony). In it, Schumann also anticipated the mature Wagner (yep, the "Tristan-chord" is there--between the 3rd & 4th mvts.). Schumann, not Mahler, is the inventor of "progressive harmony" (according to numerous musicologists). : Schumann created a new harmonic musical language. His influence can be felt from Brahms and Grieg, thru Debussy and well into the 20th century. Many composers (Milhaud, Pfitzner, Copland, etc.) saw him as the most important post-Beethoven composer. His great dramatic works (oratorios, "Szenen aus Goethes 'Faust'") are being performed more frequently. : Conductors Sawallisch, Venzago, Boughton and other are championing his orchestral works. : Indeed, a Schumann Renaissance seems to be underway at last--as well as a reappraisal of his greatness.

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