Robert SchumannRobert Schumann1810 - 18561810 - 1856

Romantic PeriodRomantic Period

Expressiveness more important than Expressiveness more important than form & orderform & order

Expressed emotion with little restraintExpressed emotion with little restraint Describes things like nature, a scene or a Describes things like nature, a scene or a

feelingfeeling Music given specific titles instead of Music given specific titles instead of

being named by the formbeing named by the form Growing use of folk musicGrowing use of folk music

SchumannSchumann

1810 - Born in Saxony 1810 - Born in Saxony (now part of Germany)(now part of Germany)

Accomplished pianist as a boyAccomplished pianist as a boy 1828 – Entered law school, but 1828 – Entered law school, but

never went to class. Instead spent never went to class. Instead spent his time in musical, social & his time in musical, social & literary activitiesliterary activities

SchumannSchumann

1829 – Began piano lessons with 1829 – Began piano lessons with Friedrich Wieck to become concert Friedrich Wieck to become concert pianist; quit to attend Heidelberg pianist; quit to attend Heidelberg UniversityUniversity

1830 – Lived with Wieck1830 – Lived with Wieck 1832 – Began to have trouble with his 1832 – Began to have trouble with his

hand, made a contraption to strengthen hand, made a contraption to strengthen fingers, but it actually crippled themfingers, but it actually crippled them

1835 – Met Mendehlssohn1835 – Met Mendehlssohn

SchumannSchumann

Developed relationship Developed relationship with Clara Wieck, his with Clara Wieck, his teacher's daughterteacher's daughter

Mr. Wieck did not Mr. Wieck did not approveapprove

Went to court to seek Went to court to seek permission to marry permission to marry ClaraClara

SchumannSchumann

Was nearsighted & afraid of heightsWas nearsighted & afraid of heights Was a music criticWas a music critic Established his own music journalEstablished his own music journal Wrote under 2 pen names – Florestan Wrote under 2 pen names – Florestan

& Eusebius& Eusebius Lines between reality & fantasy Lines between reality & fantasy

blurred because he dedicated 2 of the blurred because he dedicated 2 of the movements of movements of CarnavalCarnaval to Florestan & to Florestan & Eusebuis Eusebuis http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMZi29dagGo

SchumannSchumann

Toward end of life, heard strange voicesToward end of life, heard strange voices Said the spirits of Schubert & Said the spirits of Schubert &

Mendelssohn came to him to dictate Mendelssohn came to him to dictate musical themes.musical themes.

Sometimes he thought he was being Sometimes he thought he was being pursued by tigers & hyenas.pursued by tigers & hyenas.

Attempted suicideAttempted suicide Voluntarily committed to an asylum.Voluntarily committed to an asylum.

Schumann’s MusicSchumann’s Music

Wrote Wrote liederlieder, piano music, orchestral , piano music, orchestral music, chamber music, 1 opera, some music, chamber music, 1 opera, some choral musicchoral music

““Piano Concerto in A Minor”Piano Concerto in A Minor” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ND1J8Bc7RY

ReminderReminder – Romantic music expressed – Romantic music expressed emotion with little restraint & described emotion with little restraint & described things like nature, a scene or a feelingthings like nature, a scene or a feeling

Comparing Schubert & Comparing Schubert & SchumannSchumann

Comparing Schubert & Comparing Schubert & SchumannSchumann

Schubert – born in ________Schubert – born in ________ Schumann – born in _________Schumann – born in _________ Both wrote _______Both wrote _______ Both played the ________Both played the ________ Schubert was not well known; Schubert was not well known;

Schumann was a music critic & Schumann was a music critic & established his own music journalestablished his own music journal

Both wrote music that fits into the Both wrote music that fits into the __________ Period__________ Period

AustriaAustria

GermanyGermanyliederlieder

pianopiano

RomanticRomantic