Robert Schumann is a famous classic who has made a significant contribution to world culture. The maestro is a bright representative of the ideas of romanticism in the art of music.
He said that, unlike the mind, feelings can never be wrong. During his short life, he wrote a significant number of brilliant works. The maestro's compositions were filled with personal experiences. Fans of Schumann's work did not doubt the sincerity of their idol.
Childhood and youth
The composer was born on June 8, 1810 in Saxony (Germany). Mom and dad Schuman had an interesting love story. Their parents were against marriage due to the poverty of Robert's father. As a result, the man managed to prove that he was worthy of the hand of their daughter. He worked hard, saved up for the wedding and started his own business. Thus, Robert Schubert was a long-awaited child. He was raised with love and care.
In addition to Robert, the parents raised five more children. From early childhood, Schumann was distinguished by a rebellious and cheerful character. In temperament he was like his mother. The woman loved to pamper children, but the head of the family was a silent and withdrawn person. He preferred to bring up his heirs in severity.
When Robert was 6 years old, he was sent to school. The teachers told the parents that the boy had leadership qualities. In the same period of time, his creative abilities were discovered.
A year later, my mother helped Robert learn to play the piano. Soon the boy also showed inclinations towards composing compositions. He began writing orchestral music.
The head of the family insisted that Schumann devote his life to literature. Mom insisted on getting a law degree. But the young man saw himself exclusively in music.
After Robert visited the concert of the popular pianist Ignaz Moscheles, he finally understood what he wanted to do in the future. Parents had no chance after Schumann's significant victories in the musical field. They gave up and blessed their son to study music.
The creative path of the composer Robert Schumann
In 1830 the maestro moved to Leipzig. He studied music diligently and took lessons from Friedrich Wieck. The teacher assessed the abilities of the ward. He promised him a great future. But life decreed otherwise. The fact is that Robert developed paralysis of the hand. He could no longer play the piano at the right pace. Schumann moved from the category of musicians to composers.
Schumann's biographers put forward several versions, according to which the composer developed paralysis of the arm. One of them refers to the fact that the maestro trained on his own hand-made simulator for stretching the palm. There were also rumors that he himself removed the tendon in order to achieve virtuoso piano playing. The official wife Clara did not accept the version, but they still were.
Four years after his arrival in the new city, Schuman created the New Musical Newspaper. He took funny creative pseudonyms for himself, criticized the musical creations of his contemporaries under secret names.
Schumann's compositions brought the general mood of the German population. Then the country was in poverty and depression. Robert filled the musical world with romantic, lyrical and kind compositions. What is only worth his famous cycle for piano "Carnival". During this period of time, the maestro actively developed the genre of lyrical song.
When Robert's daughter was 7 years old, the composer handed her the creation. The album "Album for Youth" is based on the works of famous composers of that time. The collection contained 8 works by Schumann.
The popularity of the musician Robert Schumann
On the wave of popularity, he created four symphonies. New compositions were filled with deep lyrics, and also connected by one storyline. Personal experiences forced Schumann to take a short break.
Most of Schumann's work has been criticized. Robert's work was not perceived as excessive romance, harmony and sophistication. Then at every step there was rigidity, wars and revolutions. Society simply could not accept such "pure" and soulful music. They were afraid to look into the eyes of something new, and Schumann, on the contrary, was not afraid to go against the system. He was selfish.
One of Schumann's ardent opponents was Mendelssohn. He frankly considered Robert a failure. And Franz Liszt was imbued with the works of the maestro, and even included some of them in the concert program.
It is noteworthy that modern fans of the classics are actively interested in Schumann's work. The maestro's compositions can be heard in the films: "Doctor House", "Grandfather of Easy Virtue", "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button".
Details of privacy
The maestro met his future wife at the home of his teacher Friedrich Wieck. Clara (the composer's wife) was Vic's daughter. Soon the couple decided to legalize their relationship. Robert called Clara his muse. The woman was the source of his inspiration.
Interestingly, Clara was also a creative person. She worked as a pianist. Her life is constant concerts and trips around the countries. A loving husband accompanied his wife and tried to support her in all endeavors. The woman bore Schumann four children.
Family happiness was short-lived. Four years later, Robert began to show acute attacks of nervous breakdown for the first time. Many agree that it was the spouse who caused the disease of the central nervous system.
The fact is that before the wedding, Schumann fought for the right to be considered a worthy husband for Clara. Despite the fact that the girl's father considered the composer a talented person, he understood that Robert was a beggar. As a result, for the right to marry Clara, Schumann fought with the girl's father in court. But still, Vic gave his daughter under the care of a musician.
After the wedding, Robert had to constantly prove that he was no worse than his beautiful and successful wife. Schumann seemed to be in the shadow of his popular wife. In society, significant attention has always been paid to Clara and her work. He struggled with mental anguish until the end of his days. The maestro repeatedly took a creative break due to an exacerbation of mental illness.
Interesting facts about the composer Robert Schumann
- Clara often performed the compositions of her famous husband, even tried to write her own works. But in this she failed to surpass Schumann.
- Throughout his conscious life, the maestro read a lot. This passion was facilitated by his father, who sold books.
- It is known that Clara's father took her by force from the city for 1,5 years. Despite this, Schumann was waiting for his beloved and was faithful to her.
- He can be considered the "godfather" of Johannes Brahms. In his newspaper, the maestro spoke flatteringly about the compositions of the young musician. Schumann managed to draw the attention of classical music fans to Brahms.
- Schumann toured extensively in European countries. The maestro even visited the territory of the Russian Federation. Despite active touring, 8 children were born in the family, however, four of them died in infancy.
The last years of the composer's life
In 1853, the maestro, together with his wife, went on an exciting journey through the territory of Holland. The couple had a great time. They were received with honors. Soon, Robert had another aggravation. He decided to voluntarily take his own life by jumping into the Rhine River. His attempt to take his own life was unsuccessful. The musician was saved.
Due to suicide attempts, he was placed in a clinic and stopped communicating with Clara. July 29, 1856 he died. The cause of death was congested blood vessels and damage to the brain.
