Abstract

Lorelei, a legendary rock cliff along the Rhine River in Germany, is often mentioned to in works of literature, music, and paintings, especially those from the nineteenth century. This thesis first analyses the Lorelei poem by Heinrich Heine (1797-1856), which inspired many German composers to set it to music, including Clara Schumann (1819-1896). This thesis discusses the Lorelei Lied composed by Clara Schumann, comparing her work with men composers who set the same text, such as Franz Liszt (1811-1886), Friedrich Silcher (1789-1860), and the Lorelei-related Lied of her husband, Robert Schumann (1810-1856). Motivated to discover how Clara Schumann, as a woman composer, differed from her masculine counterparts, this thesis analyses how feminine qualities are layered in her compositions, and how being a woman may influence her music.