History Music / RobertSchumann

* {{Determinator}}: Schumann went through periods of extraordinary creative capacity. He wrote the piano work ''Music/{{Kreisleriana}}'' in ''four days'' and remarkably duplicated the feat with his Symphony No. 1 in B-flat major (though he spent three additional weeks orchestrating the latter). During 1840 (referred to by biographers as "The Year of Song"), Schumann incredibly wrote 150 songs over a four month period, a rate better than one song per day.

* TheWonka: Schumann had a successful self-employed career as a composer and music critic despite suffering from mental illness.

* TheAlcoholic: Schumann was a heavy drinker, believing alcohol heightened his creativity. He sometimes supplemented the high with caffeine and strong cigars.

* DatingWhatDaddyHates: Applies to Schumann's wife [[Music/ClaraSchumann Clara]]. Her father did everything he possibly could to end his daughter's relationship, including taking legal action to [[ParentalMarriageVeto prevent the couple from marrying]].

* HearingVoices: As Schumann's mental illness worsened, he had periods where he heard imaginary voices.

* MoodSwinger: The composer exhibited such behavior and may have suffered from manic-depressive disorder. The creation of his fictional critic alter egos, Florestan (the achiever) and Eusebius (the dreamer), personified his dual nature.

* MentorArchetype: He used his music critic's post as a bully pulpit for composers whose music he liked. Most notable beneficiaries included Music/WolfgangAmadeusMozart, Music/LudwigVanBeethoven, Music/CarlMariaVonWeber, Music/HectorBerlioz, and Music/FryderykChopin, about the last of whom he famously wrote, "Hats off, gentlemen, a genius!". He came out of retirement to jump-start the career of a young Creator/JohannesBrahms. Schumann was also very supportive of his wife's performing career and encouraged her to go out on tour.

* {{Determinator}}: Schumann went through periods of extraordinary creative capacity. He wrote the piano work ''Music/{{Kreisleriana}}'' in ''four days'' and remarkably duplicated the feat with his ''[[Music/SymphonyNoOneInBFlatMajor Symphony No. 1 in B-flat major]]'' (though he spent three additional weeks orchestrating the latter). During 1840 (referred to by biographers as "The Year of Song"), Schumann incredibly wrote 150 songs over a four month period, a rate better than one song per day.

* MentorArchetype: He used his music critic's post as a bully pulpit for composers whose music he liked. Most notable beneficiaries included Music/WolfgangAmadeusMozart, Music/LudwigVanBeethoven, Music/CarlMariaVonWeber, Music/HectorBerlioz, and Music/FryderykChopin, about whom he famously wrote, "Hats off, gentlemen, a genius!". He came out of retirement to jump-start the career of a young Creator/JohannesBrahms. Schumann was also very supportive of his wife's performing career and encouraged her to go out on tour.

* MentorArchetype: He used his music critic's post as a bully pulpit for composers whose music he liked. Most notable beneficiaries included Music/WolfgangAmadeusMozart, Music/LudwigVanBeethoven, Music/CarlMariaVonWeber, Music/HectorBerlioz, and Music/FryderykChopin. He came out of retirement to jump-start the career of a young Creator/JohannesBrahms. Schumann was also very supportive of his wife's performing career and encouraged her to go out on tour.

* {{Determinator}}: Schumann went through periods of extraordinary creative capacity. He wrote the piano work ''Music/{{Kreisleriana}}'' in ''four days'' and remarkably duplicated the feat with his ''[[Music/SymphonyNoOneInBFlatMajor Symphony No. 1 in B-flat major]]'' (though he spent three additional weeks orchestrating the latter). During 1840 (referred to by biographers as "The Year of Song"), Schumann wrote a remarkable 150 songs over a four month period, a rate better than one song per day.

* {{Determinator}}: Schumann went through periods of extraordinary creative capacity. He wrote the piano work ''Music/{{Kreisleriana}}'' in ''four days'' and remarkably duplicated the feat with his ''[[Music/SymphonyNoOneInBFlatMajor Symphony No. 1 in B-flat major]]'' (though he spent three additional weeks orchestrating the latter). During 1840 (referred to by biographers as "The Year of Song"), Schumann wrote 168 such works, averaging out to approximately one song every two days for the year.

** Schumann's composing career benefited greatly from his wife's efforts, both as an active performer of his piano music and as muse. Her prodding to write chamber music, orchestral pieces, and Lieder resulted in Schumann's best works for these media.

* {{Romanticism}}: Schumann's music is considered an archetypal example of this style. His piano music, for instance, often consisted of character piece collections and frequently contained programmatic elements (think ''Music/{{Carnaval}}'' and ''Music/{{Papillons}}''). He was well-steeped in Romantic literature, with Creator/JeanPaul a particular favorite, and this heavily influenced both his composing and critical writing.

Having to give up his dream to be a pianist [[DreamCrushingHandicap due to an injury]], he concentrated on composing and writing commentaries on music. He was married to Clara Wieck, one of the most famous pianists of his time, after a long battle against [[ParentalMarriageVeto the opposition of her father]] (who was his piano teacher). Besides his music, Schumann was known to be an enthusiastic promoter of Music/FryderykChopin in Germany and it was he who pronounced Creator/JohannesBrahms a genius.

He wrote mostly for piano. Many people will know ''Träumerei'' (Dreaming) from ''Kinderszenen'' (Scenes from Childhood) and ''Carnaval''. He also wrote numerous song cycles, including his famous ''Dichterliebe'' (Poet's Love) and ''Frauen-Liebe und Leben'' (A Woman's Love and Life), five symphonies, and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ynky7qoPnUU a beautiful piano concerto]].

* {{Romanticism}}: Schumann's music is considered an archetypal example of this style. His piano music, for instance, consisted of character piece collections and frequently contained programmatic elements. He was well-steeped in Romantic literature, with Creator/JeanPaul a particular favorite, and this heavily influenced both his composing and critical writing.

* MentorArchetype: He used his music critic's post as a bully pulpit for composers whose music he liked. Most notable beneficiaries included Music/WolfgangAmadeusMozart, Music/LudwigVanBeethoven, Music/CarlMariaVonWeber, Music/HectorBerlioz, and Music/FryderykChopin. He came out of retirement to jump-start the career of a young Creator/JohannesBrahms.

* {{Romanticism}}: Schumann's music is considered an archetypal example of this style. His piano music, for example, frequently contained programmatic elements and consisted of character piece collections. He was well-steeped in Romantic literature, with Creator/JeanPaul a particular favorite, and this heavily influenced both his composing and critical writing.

** Schumann's composing career benefited greatly from his wife's efforts, both as an active performer of his piano music and as muse. Her prodding to write chamber music, orchestral works, and Lieder resulted in Schumann's best works for these media.

* {{Romanticism}}: Schumann's music is considered an archetypal example of this style. He was well-steeped in Romantic literature, with Creator/JeanPaul a particular favorite, and this heavily influenced both his composing and critical writing.

** Schumann's composing career benefited greatly from his wife's efforts, both as an active performer of his piano music and as muse. Her prodding him to write chamber music, orchestral works, and Lieder resulted in his best works for these media.
* MoodSwinger: The composer exhibited such behavior at times, and may have suffered from manic-depressive disorder.

* {{Romanticism}}: Schumann's music is considered an archetypal example of this style. He was well-steeped in Romantic literature, with Creator/JeanPaul a particular favorite.

* MentorArchetype: He used his music critic's post as a bully pulpit for composers whose music he liked. Most notable beneficiaries included Music/WolfgangAmadeusMozart, Music/LudwigVanBeethoven, Music/CarlMariaVonWeber, Music/HectorBerlioz, and Music/FryderykChopin. He came out of retirement to jump-start the career of a young Creator/JohannesBrahms.

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He wrote mostly for piano. Many people will know ''Träumerei'' (Dreaming) from ''Kinderszenen'' (Scenes from Childhood) and ''Karnaval''. He also wrote numerous song cycles, including his famous ''Dichterliebe'' (Poet's Love) and ''Frauen-Liebe und Leben'' (A Woman's Love and Life), five symphonies, and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ynky7qoPnUU a beautiful piano concerto]].

He wrote mostly for piano. Many people will know ''Träumerei'' (Dreaming) from ''Kinderszenen'' (Scenes from Childhood) and ''Carnaval''. He also wrote numerous song cycles, including his famous ''Dichterliebe'' (Poet's Love) and ''Frauen-Liebe und Leben'' (A Woman's Love and Life), five symphonies, and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ynky7qoPnUU a beautiful piano concerto]].

He wrote mostly for piano. Many people will know ''Träumerei'' (Dreaming) from ''Kinderszenen'' (Scenes from Childhood).

Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856) was a German composer and music critic of Romantic Era.

Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856) was a German composer and music critic of Romantic Era. Having to give up his dream to be a pianist [[DreamCrushingHandicap due to an injury]], he concentrated on composing and writing commentaries on music. He was married to Clara Wieck, one of the most famous pianists of his time, after a long battle against [[ParentalMarriageVeto the opposition of her father]] (who was his piano teacher). Besides his music, Schumann was known to be an enthusiastic promoter of Music/FryderykChopin in Germany and it was he who pronounced Creator/JohannesBrahms a genius.

Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856) was a German composer and music critic of Romantic Era. Having to give up his dream to be pianist [[DreamCrushingHandicap due to an injury]], he concentrated on composing and writing commentaries on music. He was married to Clara Wieck, one of the most famous pianists of his time, after a long battle against [[ParentalMarriageVeto the opposition of her father]] (who was his piano teacher). Besides his music, Schumann was known to be an enthusiastic promoter of Music/FryderykChopin in Germany and it was he who pronounced Creator/JohannesBrahms a genius.

Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856) was a German composer and music critic of Romantic Era. Having to give up his dream to be pianist due to an injury, he concentrated on composing and writing commentaries on music. He was married to Clara Wieck, one of the most famous pianists of his time, after a long battle against [[ParentalMarriageVeto the opposition of her father]] (who was his piano teacher). Besides his music, Schumann was known to be an enthusiastic promoter of Music/FryderykChopin in Germany and it was he who pronounced Creator/JohannesBrahms a genius.

[[redirect:Creator/RobertSchumann]]

'''Robert Schumann''' (1810 - 1856) was a German composer and music critic of Romantic Era. Having to give up his dream to be pianist due to an injury, he concentrated on composing and writing commentaries on music. He was married to ClaraWieck, one of the most famous pianists of his time, after a long battle against [[ParentalMarriageVeto the opposition of her father]] (who was his piano teacher). Besides his music, Schumann was known to be an enthusiastic promoter of FryderykChopin in Germany and it was he who pronounced JohannesBrahms a genius.

Unfortunately, Schumann suffered from what today would be diagnosed as manic-depressive disorder. He tried to kill himself in 1854 by jumping into the Rhine river, but was saved by a passing fishing boat. Thereafter, he had himself committed to an insane asylum and never emerged.

He wrote mostly for piano. Many people will know ''Träumerei'' (Dreaming) from ''Kinderszenen'' (Scenes from Childhood).
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