Robert Schumman wrote his Cello concerto in A minor, Op. 129 in two weeks, finishing it in October 1850. It was never played during his lifetime, premiering in 1860 in a concert in honour of the 50th anniversary of Schumman's birth. The piece was titled as a concert piece (not concerto) in the autograph score, suggesting that Schumman wanted to introduce some departures from the traditional concerto structure. He certainly did so, as this concerto is considered one of his most particular works due to its structure, its lack of virtuoso passages and its general inward nature. The score got negative feedback, so he could never premiere it during his lifetime., though it has become a standard repertoire piece since. The concerto is in three movements, which flow into each other with no pause. It is scored for solo cello, two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, two horns, two trumpets, timpani, and strings. A violin version exists, adapted by Schumman himself for Joseph Joachim.
