Robert Alexander Schumann was born on June 8, 1810, in Zwickau, Germany.
In Zwickau August Schumann, Robert's father, founded a bookstore with his brother, who was already living there.
Robert inherited a love of romantic poetry from his father. When he was 14 Robert published some verses, as well as writing an essay on the aesthetics of music. He also contributed to a volume, edited by his father, titled Portraits of Famous Men.
At 18 Robert began to study law at Leipzig, largely to please his mother.
Robert's real interest lay in music, however, and in 1830 his piano teacher and future father-in law, Friedrich Wieck, persuaded Schumann's mother to let him give up law.
Robert Schumann wanted to become a piano virtuoso so he spent hours practicing and even built a mechanical device to strengthen his fourth finger. Unfortunately the device did more harm than good, and his fourth finger was so damaged that the German was forced to concentrate on composing.
Schumann was also a notable music critic. His writings about music appeared mostly in the Neue Zeitschrift für Musik (New Journal for Music), a Leipzig-based publication which he jointly founded with Friedrich Wieck, and his close friend Ludwig Schuncke. Its first issue appeared on April 3, 1834.
An exponent of the art song, Schumann wrote beautiful mood pieces and musical portraits that were also noted for their descriptive titles. He often gave the piano accompaniment more importance than the melody.
Some of his best work was written for his wife, Clara Wieck Schumann, a talented concert pianist. When Schumann married Clara on September 12, 1840, his happiness released a flood of songs, including the magnificent cycles Woman's Love and Life and Poet's Love. In that year he composed 138 songs.
Robert and Clara had eight children, Emil (1846–1847), who died at 1 year; Marie (1841–1929); Elise (1843–1928); Julie (1845–1872); Ludwig (1848–1899); Ferdinand (1849–1891); Eugenie (1851–1938); and Felix (1854–1879).
In 1843 Schumann's fellow romantic classicist Felix Mendelssohn founded the Leipzig Conservatory, where he and Schumann taught composition.
When Mendelssohn died in 1847, Schumann was one of the pallbearers at his funeral.
In 1853 Schumann met Johannes Brahms. The young German composer became a great friend of the Schumann family. Schumann published an article in the Neue Zeitschrift für Musik with the heading “Neue Bahnen” (“New Paths”) in which he said that Brahms (who was 20 at the time) was going to be a very great composer.
Schumann suffered from manic depression and found it difficult because Clara was more famous than he was. He drank a lot of beer and champagne and had a complete nervous breakdown in 1844 after which and could not bear to listen to his own music for a time.
Schumann had often thought of trying to kill himself. On February 27, 1854 he threw himself into the Rhine. Rescued by boatmen and taken home, he asked to be taken to an asylum for the insane, in Endenich near Bonn where he spent the last two years of his life.
During his confinement, Schumann was not allowed to see Clara, although Johannes Brahms was free to visit him.
Clara finally visited him two days before his death. Schumann appeared to recognize her, but was able to speak only a few words. He died on July 29, 1856.
After Robert's death, Clara continued her successful career as a concert pianist, which served to support the family. Despite being 14 years older than him it is believed by some that Clara Schumann and Johannes Brahms became lovers after the death of her husband. Indeed, the destruction of their letters to each other may point to something beyond mere privacy.
Source Compton's Encyclopedia
In Zwickau August Schumann, Robert's father, founded a bookstore with his brother, who was already living there.
Robert inherited a love of romantic poetry from his father. When he was 14 Robert published some verses, as well as writing an essay on the aesthetics of music. He also contributed to a volume, edited by his father, titled Portraits of Famous Men.
At 18 Robert began to study law at Leipzig, largely to please his mother.
 |
| A youthful Robert Schumann |
Robert Schumann wanted to become a piano virtuoso so he spent hours practicing and even built a mechanical device to strengthen his fourth finger. Unfortunately the device did more harm than good, and his fourth finger was so damaged that the German was forced to concentrate on composing.
Schumann was also a notable music critic. His writings about music appeared mostly in the Neue Zeitschrift für Musik (New Journal for Music), a Leipzig-based publication which he jointly founded with Friedrich Wieck, and his close friend Ludwig Schuncke. Its first issue appeared on April 3, 1834.
 |
| Front page banner of NZM, issue of 30 April 1850 |
An exponent of the art song, Schumann wrote beautiful mood pieces and musical portraits that were also noted for their descriptive titles. He often gave the piano accompaniment more importance than the melody.
Some of his best work was written for his wife, Clara Wieck Schumann, a talented concert pianist. When Schumann married Clara on September 12, 1840, his happiness released a flood of songs, including the magnificent cycles Woman's Love and Life and Poet's Love. In that year he composed 138 songs.
Robert and Clara had eight children, Emil (1846–1847), who died at 1 year; Marie (1841–1929); Elise (1843–1928); Julie (1845–1872); Ludwig (1848–1899); Ferdinand (1849–1891); Eugenie (1851–1938); and Felix (1854–1879).
 |
| Robert and Clara Schumann in 1847, lithograph with a personal dedication |
In 1843 Schumann's fellow romantic classicist Felix Mendelssohn founded the Leipzig Conservatory, where he and Schumann taught composition.
When Mendelssohn died in 1847, Schumann was one of the pallbearers at his funeral.
In 1853 Schumann met Johannes Brahms. The young German composer became a great friend of the Schumann family. Schumann published an article in the Neue Zeitschrift für Musik with the heading “Neue Bahnen” (“New Paths”) in which he said that Brahms (who was 20 at the time) was going to be a very great composer.
Schumann suffered from manic depression and found it difficult because Clara was more famous than he was. He drank a lot of beer and champagne and had a complete nervous breakdown in 1844 after which and could not bear to listen to his own music for a time.
 |
| Robert Schumann in an 1850 daguerreotype |
Schumann had often thought of trying to kill himself. On February 27, 1854 he threw himself into the Rhine. Rescued by boatmen and taken home, he asked to be taken to an asylum for the insane, in Endenich near Bonn where he spent the last two years of his life.
During his confinement, Schumann was not allowed to see Clara, although Johannes Brahms was free to visit him.
Clara finally visited him two days before his death. Schumann appeared to recognize her, but was able to speak only a few words. He died on July 29, 1856.
After Robert's death, Clara continued her successful career as a concert pianist, which served to support the family. Despite being 14 years older than him it is believed by some that Clara Schumann and Johannes Brahms became lovers after the death of her husband. Indeed, the destruction of their letters to each other may point to something beyond mere privacy.
Source Compton's Encyclopedia
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