Contents
Robert Schumann
Writing Romantic piano cycles and songs that joined music with literary imagination.
Carnaval · Dichterliebe
- Born
- 8 June 1810
- Birthplace
- Zwickau, Germany
- Died
- 29 July 1856
More people
Robert Schumann
Robert Schumann was a German composer and music critic. His work grew from piano miniatures into songs, chamber music, symphonies and concertos.
Early life
Books and music
His father was a publisher, and literature remained a strong influence on his musical thinking.
From law to piano
Left the study of law to pursue music with Friedrich Wieck, though a hand problem ended his plans for a virtuoso career.
Career
- 1834
Music journal
Helped establish the Neue Zeitschrift für Musik and championed other composers in print.
- 1840
Year of song
Composed a large body of songs during the year he married Clara Wieck.
- 1850
Düsseldorf appointment
Became municipal music director, combining composition with conducting duties.
Selected work
Carnaval
A piano cycle presents contrasting musical characters and masks.
Dichterliebe
A song cycle sets poems by Heinrich Heine.
Piano Concerto
A concerto closely associated with Clara Schumann, who premiered it.
Beyond work
Clara Schumann
Married the pianist and composer after a legal struggle against her father’s opposition.
Final illness
Entered a psychiatric institution in Endenich in 1854 and remained there until his death.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Photo: Josef Kriehuber. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
