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The Music of Robert Louis Stevenson

Wohin?

By J.F.M. Russell ©2019

Robert Louis Stevenson began studying the piano and composition at age 36 and learned the penny whistle two years later. He played the flageolet, a version of the whistle equipped with keys, almost until the end of his life. His arrangements and compositions include more than 120 pieces. This site describes his complete works through facsimiles, transcriptions, recordings, quotations and commentary.

"An interesting chapter in his life will be written when all his scattered pieces are brought together, and the musical side of his character unexpectedly revealed to the vast public that knows him now only as the winsome versifier and the accomplished romancer."

Robert Murrell Stevenson in Robert Louis Stevenson's Musical Interests, 1957.

Facsimile:

Transcription:

Recording:

Manuscript Location:

Library of Congress

ML96 .S895 Case

Source:

Die Schöne Müllerin, D.795 (Op.25) (Schubert, Franz), 1st ed. 1824, via IMSLP:

Significant References in Works of R.L.S.:

Booth, Bradford A. and Ernest Mehew. The Letters of Robert Louis Stevenson. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1995, v. 6: Letter 2112, October 1888:

Comments:

Stevenson faithfully transposed Schubert's entire song to the key of D, leaving out only the opening piano introduction and altering the ninth measure slightly. In many of his arrangements he shortens the piece and simplifies notes and rhythms. That he has done none of that here indicates his love and respect for the music. The piece must have been difficult for him to play on flageolet, and the ironic comments in his letter are at his own expense.

Because of the length, only part of the music has been recorded.