The “Neue Robert-Schumann-Gesamtausgabe (RSA)” considers itself as historical-critical complete edition. In doing so it wants to be embedded in the historical facticity of the authentic sources. The principle is text production faithful to the sources. In accordance with the state of the art musicological editorial-technology, all compositions are carefully processed and presented as a whole. Furthermore, attempts, sketches, and drafts that remained fragmented, i.e. everything, that was authentically handed down from Schumann and was mostly saved deliberately by him, is collected, analysed in its significance, and documented in the complete edition.
Where in today’s world misunderstandings and problems concerning the comprehension could occur, it is interfered text-critically. Generally, every editorial measure and every deviation from the basic text (original edition and/or autograph) is indicated. This is done in the sheet music itself or in the audit report.
After all, the complete edition also wants to take the historicity of the works into account, as well as aspects of the historical genre and data and correlations of historical reception. The critical edition should provide a sound basis for a maintenance of Robert Schumann’s music, faithful to the original, in the musical practice. Approx. 53 volumes are planned with integrated critical reports as well as 7 volumes with studies and sketches, or writings and supplements. The RSA is divided into eight series.