Robert Schumann (jan 1, 1810 – jan 1, 1856)

Description:

Nationality: German

Though Schubert’s first important successor as a Lieder composer, he went to university to study law. After university studies in law, however, he devoted himself to becoming a concert pianist studying in Leipzig with Friedrich Wieck, his eventual father in law. A right hand injury cut short his performance career, so he turned to composition and criticism. He married Clara Wieck in 1840 despite her father's objections, and they had eight children together. He became the municipal music director in Dusseldorf in 1850, though increasing signs of mental instability forced him to resign in 1853. Several factors may have contributed to this poor mental state (long term syphilis and hereditary depression). He tried to commit suicide in 1854, leading him to be institutionalized, where he died in 1856.

Philosophies
Schumann opposed empty virtuosity and urged the study of older music, and was one of the first and strongest advocates of Chopin, Brahms, and Schubert’s instrumental music. For his own Lieder, he thought music should capture a poems essence in its own terms and that voice and piano should be equal partners. Thus he often gave the piano lengthy preludes, interludes, or postludes. He also sometimes manifested his appreciation of JS Bach's polyphony in his own works.

He usually had a compositional theme for his years:
Piano music until 1840
1840 - Lieder
1841 - Symphonies
1842-43 - Chamber
1843 - Oratorio
1847-48 - dramatic music
1852 - church music

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