1. Robert Schumann 1810 - 1856

2. 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

3. Schumann  1810 - 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

4. 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

5. Schumann  1836 - Developed relationship with Clara Wieck, his teacher's daughter (She was 17.)  1837 – Schumann asked for Mr. Wieck approval, which he denied  Went to court to seek permission to marry Clara

6. 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 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMZi29dagGo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMZi29dagGo

7. 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.

8. Schumann’s Music  Wrote “Piano Concerto in A Minor”  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ND1J8Bc7RY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ND1J8Bc7RY  Reminder – Romantic music expressed emotion with little restraint & described things like nature, a scene or a feeling

9. Comparing Schubert & Schumann

10.  Schubert – born in ________  Schumann – born in _________  Both played the ________  Schubert wrote “The Trout,” “Gretchen at the Spinning Wheel” and the_______________________; Schumann wrote ___________________  Both wrote music that fits into the __________ Period Austria Germany piano Romantic The “Unfinished” Symphony Piano Concerto in A Minor