Choralfantasie über "Jesus meine Zuversicht", Op. 8, No. 1 (Zwei Choralfantasien)

Camillo Schumann (10 March 1872 – 29 December 1946) was a German late Romantic composer and organist.

He was born in Königstein as one of twelve children of the city music director Clemens Schumann. His elder brother was the composer Georg Schumann.

Schumann received his first lessons, as did his brothers, from his father and learned to play several instruments during his early childhood. From 1889 to 1893, he was trained first for a short time at the Hochschule für Musik Carl Maria von Weber Dresden, then at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Leipzig with Carl Reinecke, Salomon Jadassohn, Bruno Zwintscher, Paul Homeyer and others. In 1894 and 1895, he studied with Woldemar Bargiel and Robert Radecke at the Royal Music Institute of Berlin.

During his time in Berlin, Schumann worked as a substitute organist in several larger churches. On 1 October 1896 he took up the post of full-time organist at the Hauptkirche St. Georg in Eisenach and at the Wartburg Chapel there. In 1906 he was awarded the title of Grand Ducal Saxon Music Director and Court Organist.

Schumann organised numerous organ and chamber concerts in Eisenach and was particularly committed to cultivating the music of Johann Sebastian Bach in his native city.

In April 1914, he moved to Bad Gottleuba, took on a few more church music engagements near his home, but increasingly devoted himself to his compositional work away from courtly duties. Schumann died here on 29 December 1946 at the age of 74. His grave still exists today. In 1972, a headstone was erected in his memory in his native town of Königstein. (see photo)

This is a fine setting in its solemnity and expressiveness. There is a sense of "uniqueness" about, which is better expressed by hearing, rather than words.

The style seems elegant but old-fashioned, especially when you notice that he lived until 1946. To me, the music speaks of the traditions of Brahms and Mendelssohn.

The score and a photo of Camillo Schumann are attached below.