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Schumann R

Name: Robert Alexander Schumann

Achievements: Famous Romantic composer

Born: June 6, 1810; Zwickau, Germany

Died: July 29, 1856; Endenich, near Bonn, Germany (Aged 46)

Field & Discipline: Music; Composer

Language: German

Father: August Schumann

Mother: Christiane Schnabel

Siblings: Eduard; Karl; Julius; Emilie

Spouse: Clara Wieck

Children: Emil; Ferdinand;  Ludwig;  Felix; Marie; Elise; Julie; Eugenie

Education: Zwickau (Germany) Gymnasium; University of Leipzig, Germany

Major Work:

"Song Cycles"

"Piano Quintet in E flat Major"

"Piano Concerto in A Minor"

Life & Times:

At university Schumann  rented a piano, formed a quartet, and immersed himself in the music of Austrian composer [influenced by] Schubert*.  In November, 1828, when news came that Schubert was dead, he wept all night.  His piano teacher was Friedrich Wieck, the leading piano teacher in Leipzig, whose nine-year-old daughter, Clara (eventually to become his wife, [married] Clara Schumann*), was already beginning her career as a concert pianist.

In the spring of 1829, Schumann travelled for the summer to Heidelberg, Italy and Switzerland and  spent seven hours a day at the piano, practising and composing.  He went to Frankfurt to hear Italian violinist [attended concert by] Paganini*.  Schumann's piano compositions, the "Abegg Variations" written in 1830, were  published the following year.

He turned to music criticism, and in December, 1831 published his first article: a glowing review of Polish composer [glowing review from] Chopin*'s "Variations for Piano and Orchestra" on an aria from Mozart’s "Don Giovanni.”  Schumann called Chopin, then unknown and only a few months older than Schumann, a genius, and later claimed to be the first to recognize Chopin's talent.

Schumann's "Symphony in G Minor" was not well received when it was played in Zwickau at the end of 1832.  During the summer of 1834, Schumann became briefly engaged to Ernestine von Fricken, who was studying with Wieck.  Their relationship inspired Schumann's "Carnaval.”  During this period, he also completed his "Sonata No. 1 in F Sharp Minor" and "Sonata No.2 in G Minor.”  In 1836, he wrote his last piano sonata, the "F minor.”  All three show the influence of Schubert.

Friedrich Wieck did not approve of the liaison between his daughter and Schumann, and kept them apart for a year.  Schumann and Clara were reunited in 1837, after which Schumann wrote "Davidsbundlertanze.” Other works in this period inspired by his passion for Clara were the "Kinderszenen" ("Scenes from Childhood"), "Arabeske,”  "Humoreske" and "Novelletten.”

Schumann visited Vienna in 1839 and there wrote most of the "Faschingsschwank aus Wien (Carnival Jest from Vienna").    [a fan was] Liszt* compared this work to Beethoven's music. Schumann now was determined to marry Clara, who had taken up residence in Paris for six months, but her father was equally determined that no marriage would take place. Schumann resorted to legal procedures, and in August, 1840,  he and Clara were married.

Within the next year, Schumann wrote most of the songs which made his reputation as a great lieder writer.  These included the "Myrthen" (Myrtles) cycles, two "Leiderkreise" (song cycles,) , "Frauenliebe und leben" ("Woman’s Love and Life,” and "Dichterliebe" (Poet’s Love). Altogether, he wrote 33 sets of solo songs and two ballads, totalling over

200 songs.

Many sets are based on the works of poets Heinrich Heine, [adapted work of] Byron*, and [adapted work of] Goethe*.   At his wife's urging, he started again to write for the orchestra.  In 1841, he  composed the "Symphony No 1 in B Flat Major,” performed the same year under [worked for] Felix Mendelssohn* in Leipzig.

Also in 1841, he composed his "Overture,” "Scherzo,” and "Finale"; and the "Phantasie" for piano and orchestra which, when he added two more movements, became the famous "Piano Concerto in A Minor.”  In the same period, he composed his "Symphony in D Minor" and sketches for a third symphony in C minor.  In 1842, he turned to chamber works, of which the best known is the "Piano Quintet in E flat Major.”

Schumann accepted the post of music professor at the newly found Leipzig Conservatory, of which Mendelssohn was director.  He was responsible for piano, composition and playing from score, but it soon became clear he was not suited to the task.  Even so, he stayed on, hoping to succeed Mendelssohn as director.

But when Mendelssohn's term finished, Schumann was not offered the position. It went instead to [lost job to] Gade*, a Danish composer seven years younger than Schumann.  Although Schumann felt slighted, he liked Gade and had written warm reviews of his work.

Schumann resigned from the Conservatory and shortly after had a nervous breakdown, from which he never fully recovered.  He and Clara Schumann moved to Dresden, where they became part of a circle of musicians and artists around German composer [a pal of] Wagner* .  Schumann was present when Wagner read his newly completed libretto for "Lohengrin" in November, 1845.

Schumann began another symphony, "No 2 in C Major,” but had trouble with it and finished it only 10 months later. During the 1840’s, his depressions increased.  In 1846, he had auditory hallucinations and went to the north sea island of Norderney for his health.  He heard [heard] Jenny Lind* sing in Hamburg.

During 1848 and 1849, Schumann wrote the incidental music for Byron's drama "Manfred.”  But his musical abilities continued to decline.  He applied unsuccessfully for positions in both Leipzig and Vienna, and finally accepted the post of Municipal Director of Music at Dusseldorf.

In 1851, he completed his "Cello Concerto in A Minor" and "Symphony No. 3 in E-Flat Major (the Rhenish Symphony").  He rewrote the "Symphony in D Minor" which was eventually published as "Symphony No. 4.”

In February, 1854, after writing down a theme he first claimed was sent by angels, then reported that the angels had changed to demons, Schumann commited himself to a mental asylum.  The next day, he threw himself into the Rhine, but was rescued.

He spent the last two years of his life in a private asylum at Endenich near Bonn.  Throughout his life, he enjoyed the friendship of composer [a pal of] Brahms* who was of special comfort to Clara Schumann after Schumann died

Extra Connections: Favorite composer of [a fan was] Nietzsche*

A fan was French composer[fan was]Saint Saens*

Assessment: One of the major German Romantic composers of his era

Oneliner: Robert Schumann, Romantic composer

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