Schumann, Robert
PreviousUp to the composers menuNext
1810-1856

Xtend

MIDI files of a few of the composer's highlights
Listen

His time
Period

His country
Country

Quotations of and about the composer
Quotation

Students Projects
Projects

Dictionary of terms
Dictionary

The finders of MusixCool
Finders









Schumann (1839) by Joseph Kriehuber, Schumann Museum, Zwickau

Born: 8 June 1810, Zwickau, Germany
Died: 29 July 1856, Endenich, Austria

Schumann, Robert

Like many other composers, Schumann also abandoned law school, forced upon him by his father, and turned to music. His hand was injured and his dreams of a pianist's career vanished. He became a music critic for a magazine he founded, and identified young geniuses like Brahms and Chopin, and recognized the talents of Mendelssohn and Berlioz. He also discovered, in Vienna, forgotten pieces by Schubert and saw to it that they were published.

Clara Schumann by Franz Lenbach, Robert-Schumann-Haus, ZwickauAt that time, he began writing little pieces for piano (miniatures), in which he excelled, and which were played by his pianist wife Clara Wieck Schumann, who promoted his music all her life. Among the works of that period, "Kreisleriana", and the cycle "Scenes of Childhood"'Dreaming' (No.7) from 'Scenes from Childhood' Op.15 - Schumann'Knight of the wooden horse' (No.9) from 'Scenes from Childhood' Op.15 - Schumann'Almost too serious' (No.10) from 'Scenes from Childhood' Op.15 - Schumann ("Kinderszenen"). He used to name works and movements, yet these were not the mark of a programme, but more clues to the spirit or mood, and meant to help the listener. Later on, he turned to symphonies (the best one of which was Symphony No. 3 - "The Rhenish"), chamber music and exquisite cycles of liederSchumann - Waldesgesprach (from Liedeskreis op. 39) (art songs) like "A Poet's Love" ("Dichterliebe") and "A Woman's Life and Love" ("Frauenliebe und -leben") Op. 42.

He composed musical overtures for drama, expressing the stage content; "Manfred" and "Scenes from Faust" are examples of such works. Schumann always admired Bach, and tended to incorporate Classic and even polyphonic elements, such as canons and fugues, in his work.

Throughout his entire life, Schumann suffered a mental illness, and only when it was dormant could he compose. Nearing the end of his life, his condition deteriorated, and he unsuccessfully tried to drown himself. He spent his last few years in a mental institution. In the course of these years, he could hear one sound that accompanied all his actions. Nothing could be harsher for a musician.



Schumann on the WWW
Composer's sites from the internet
Sites
Composer's audio & Music from the internet
Audio
Composer's videos from the internet
Video
Composer's images from the internet
Images
Composer's MIDI Files from the internet
MIDI

Description

He Was

a critic


He played

His Instrument


He Lived in the

Romantic period
Romantic period

In
Germany
Germany




up

MusixCool© By Nadav Dafni