Robert Schumann

Romantic Period  Expressiveness more important than form & order  Expressed emotion with little restraint  Describes things like nature, a scene or a feeling  Music given specific titles instead of being named by the form  Growing use of folk music

Schumann  Born in Saxony (now part of Germany)  Accomplished pianist as a boy  1828 – Entered law school, but never went to class. Instead spent his time in musical, social & literary activities

Schumann  1829 – Began piano lessons with Friedrich Wieck to become concert pianist; quit to attend Heidelberg University  1830 – Lived with Wieck  1832 – Began to have trouble with his hand, made a contraption to strengthen fingers, but it actually crippled them  1835 – Met Mendehlssohn

Schumann  Developed relationship with Clara Wieck, his teacher's daughter  Mr. Wieck did not approve  Went to court to seek permission to marry Clara

Schumann  Was nearsighted & afraid of heights  Was a music critic  Established his own music journal  Wrote under 2 pen names – Florestan & Eusebius  Lines between reality & fantasy blurred because he dedicated 2 of the movements of Carnaval to Florestan & Eusebuis

Schumann  Toward end of life, heard strange voices  Said the spirits of Schubert & Mendelssohn came to him to dictate musical themes.  Sometimes he thought he was being pursued by tigers & hyenas.  Attempted suicide  Voluntarily committed to an asylum.

Schumann’s Music  Wrote lieder, piano music, orchestral music, chamber music, 1 opera, some choral music  “Piano Concerto in A Minor”   Reminder – Romantic music expressed emotion with little restraint & described things like nature, a scene or a feeling

Comparing Schubert & Schumann

 Schubert – born in ________  Schumann – born in _________  Both wrote _______  Both played the ________  Schubert was not well known; Schumann was a music critic & established his own music journal  Both wrote music that fits into the __________ Period Austria Germany lieder piano Romantic