Biography. Robert Schumann: biography, interesting facts, creativity, video Passion for music

Robert Schumann (German: Robert Schumann). Born June 8, 1810 in Zwickau - died July 29, 1856 in Endenich. German composer, teacher and influential music critic. Widely known as one of the most prominent composers of the Romantic era. His teacher Friedrich Wieck was sure that Schumann would become best pianist Europe, but due to an injury to his hand, Robert had to leave his career as a pianist and devote his life to composing music.

Until 1840, all of Schumann's compositions were written exclusively for the piano. Later, many songs were published, four symphonies, an opera and other orchestral, choral and chamber works. He published his articles on music in the Neue Zeitschrift für Musik (Neue Zeitschrift für Musik).

Against his father's wishes, in 1840 Schumann marries the daughter of Friedrich Wick Clara. His wife also composed music and had a significant concert career as a pianist. Concert profits made up the bulk of her father's fortune.

Schumann suffered from a mental disorder that first manifested itself in 1833 with an episode of severe depression. After attempting suicide in 1854, he own will, was placed in psychiatric clinic. In 1856, Robert Schumann died without being cured of his mental illness.

Born in Zwickau (Saxony) on June 8, 1810 in the family of the book publisher and writer August Schumann (1773-1826).

Schumann took his first music lessons from local organist Johann Kunzsch. At the age of 10, he began to compose, in particular, choral and orchestral music. He attended a gymnasium in his native city, where he got acquainted with the works of Jean Paul, becoming their passionate admirer. The moods and images of this romantic literature were eventually reflected in musical creativity Schumann.

As a child, he joined the professional literary work, writing articles for an encyclopedia published by his father's publishing house. He was seriously fond of philology, carried out pre-publishing proofreading of a large Latin vocabulary. And school literary writings Schumann were written at such a level that they were posthumously published as an appendix to the collection of his mature journalistic works. At a certain period of his youth, Schumann even hesitated whether to choose the field of a writer or a musician.

In 1828 he entered the University of Leipzig, and the following year he moved to the University of Heidelberg. At the insistence of his mother, he planned to become a lawyer, but the young man was increasingly drawn to music. He was attracted by the idea of ​​becoming a concert pianist.

In 1830, he received his mother's permission to devote himself entirely to music and returned to Leipzig, where he hoped to find a suitable mentor. There he began to take piano lessons from F. Wieck and composition from G. Dorn.

During training, Schumann gradually developed paralysis of the middle finger and partial paralysis. index finger, because of which he had to leave the thought of a career professional pianist. There is a widespread version that this injury happened due to the use of a finger simulator (the finger was tied to a cord that was suspended from the ceiling, but could “walk” up and down like a winch), which Schumann allegedly made himself according to the type Henry Hertz's "Dactylion" (1836) and "Happy Fingers" by Tiziano Poli, which were popular at the time, were used for finger trainers.

Another unusual but common version says that Schumann, in an effort to achieve incredible virtuosity, tried to remove the tendons on his hand that connected the ring finger with the middle and little fingers. Neither of these versions has confirmation, and both of them were refuted by Schumann's wife.

Schumann himself attributed the development of paralysis to excessive handwriting and excessive piano playing. A contemporary study by musicologist Eric Sams, published in 1971, suggests that the paralysis of the fingers may have been caused by the inhalation of mercury vapor, which Schumann, on the advice of doctors of the time, may have tried to cure syphilis. But medical scientists in 1978 considered this version doubtful as well, suggesting, in turn, that the paralysis could result from chronic nerve compression in the area of ​​the elbow joint. To date, the cause of Schumann's ailment remains unidentified.

Schumann took composition seriously and at the same time music criticism. Having found support in the person of Friedrich Wieck, Ludwig Schunke and Julius Knorr, Schumann was able in 1834 to found one of the most influential musical periodicals- "New Musical Newspaper" (German: Neue Zeitschrift für Musik), which for several years he edited and regularly published his articles in it. He proved himself an adherent of the new and a fighter against the obsolete in art, with the so-called philistines, that is, with those who, with their narrow-mindedness and backwardness, hampered the development of music and represented a stronghold of conservatism and burgherism.

In October 1838, the composer moved to Vienna, but already in early April 1839 he returned to Leipzig. In 1840, the University of Leipzig awarded Schumann the title of Doctor of Philosophy. In the same year, on September 12, Schumann married the daughter of his teacher, an outstanding pianist, in the church in Schoenfeld - Clara Josephine Wick.

In the year of the marriage, Schuman created about 140 songs. Some years life together Roberta and Clara passed happily. They had eight children. Schumann accompanied his wife on concert tours, and she, in turn, often performed her husband's music. Schumann taught at the Leipzig Conservatory, founded in 1843 by F. Mendelssohn.

In 1844, Schumann, together with his wife, went on a tour to St. Petersburg and Moscow, where they were received with great honor. In the same year, Schumann moved from Leipzig to Dresden. There, for the first time, signs of a nervous breakdown appeared. It was not until 1846 that Schumann recovered sufficiently to be able to compose again.

In 1850, Schumann received an invitation to the post of city director of music in Düsseldorf. However, disagreements soon began there, and in the autumn of 1853 the contract was not renewed.

In November 1853, Schumann, together with his wife, went on a trip to Holland, where he and Clara were received "with joy and with honors." However, in the same year, the symptoms of the disease began to appear again. In early 1854, after an aggravation of his illness, Schumann tried to commit suicide by throwing himself into the Rhine, but was saved. He had to be placed in a psychiatric hospital in Endenich near Bonn. In the hospital, he almost did not compose, sketches of new compositions have been lost. Occasionally he was allowed to see his wife Clara. Robert died July 29, 1856. Buried in Bonn.

The work of Robert Schumann:

In his music, Schumann, more than any other composer, reflected the deeply personal nature of romanticism. His early music, introspective and often whimsical, was an attempt to break with the tradition of classical forms, in his opinion, too limited. Much akin to the poetry of H. Heine, Schumann's work challenged the spiritual wretchedness of Germany in the 1820s-1840s, calling to the world of high humanity. The heir of F. Schubert and K. M. Weber, Schumann developed the democratic and realistic tendencies of the German and Austrian musical romanticism. Little understood in his lifetime, much of his music is now regarded as bold and original in harmony, rhythm and form. His works are closely connected with the traditions of German classical music.

Most of piano works Schumann - these are cycles of small plays of lyrical-dramatic, pictorial and "portrait" genres, interconnected by an internal plot-psychological line. One of the most typical cycles is "Carnival" (1834), in which skits, dances, masks, female images(among them Chiarina - Clara Vik), musical portraits of Paganini, Chopin.

The cycles Butterflies (1831, based on the work of Jean Paul) and Davidsbündlers (1837) are close to Carnival. The Kreislerian play cycle (1838, named after literary hero E. T. A. Hoffmann - the musician-dreamer Johannes Kreisler) belongs to the highest achievements of Schumann. World romantic images, passionate longing, heroic impulse displayed in such works by Schumann for piano as "Symphonic etudes" ("Etudes in the form of variations", 1834), sonatas (1835, 1835-1838, 1836), Fantasia (1836-1838), concerto for piano and orchestra (1841- 1845). Along with works of variation and sonata types, Schumann has piano cycles built on the principle of a suite or an album of pieces: “Fantastic Fragments” (1837), “Children's Scenes” (1838), “Album for Youth” (1848), etc.

IN vocal creativity Schumann developed the type of lyric song by F. Schubert. In a finely designed drawing of songs, Schumann displayed the details of moods, the poetic details of the text, the intonations of the living language. The significantly increased role of piano accompaniment in Schumann gives a rich outline of the image and often proves the meaning of the songs. The most popular of his vocal cycles is "The Poet's Love" to verse (1840). It consists of 16 songs, in particular, “Oh, if only the flowers guessed”, or “I hear songs sounds”, “I meet in the garden in the morning”, “I'm not angry”, “In a dream I cried bitterly”, “You are evil , evil songs. Another plot vocal cycle is "Love and Life of a Woman" to the verses by A. Chamisso (1840). Diverse in meaning, the songs are included in the cycles "Myrtle" to the verses of F. Rückert, R. Burns, G. Heine, J. Byron (1840), "Around the Songs" to the verses of J. Eichendorff (1840). In vocal ballads and song-scenes, Schumann touched upon a very wide circle plots. A striking example of Schumann's civil lyrics is the ballad "Two Grenadiers" (to the verses of G. Heine).

Some of Schumann's songs are simple scenes or everyday portrait sketches: their music is close to German folk song(“Folk Song” to the verses of F. Ruckert and others).

In the oratorio "Paradise and Peri" (1843, based on the plot of one of the parts of the "oriental" novel "Lalla Rook" by T. Moore), as well as in "Scenes from Faust" (1844-1853, after J. W. Goethe), Schumann came close to realizing his old dream of creating an opera. Schumann's only completed opera, Genoveva (1848), based on the plot of a medieval legend, did not win recognition on the stage. creative success Schumann's music came to dramatic poem"Manfred" by J. Byron (overture and 15 musical numbers, 1849).

In 4 symphonies of the composer (the so-called "Spring", 1841; Second, 1845-1846; the so-called "Rhine", 1850; Fourth, 1841-1851) bright, cheerful moods prevail. A significant place in them is occupied by episodes of a song, dance, lyric-picture character.

Schumann made a great contribution to music criticism. Promoting on the pages of his magazine the work of classical musicians, fighting against the anti-artistic phenomena of our time, he supported the new European romantic school. Schumann castigated the virtuoso smartness, the indifference to art, which is hidden under the guise of benevolence and false scholarship. The main fictional characters, on whose behalf Schumann spoke on the pages of the press, are the ardent, fiercely daring and ironic Florestan and the gentle dreamer Euzebius. Both symbolized the polar traits of the composer himself.

Schumann's ideals were close to the leading musicians of the 19th century. He was highly valued by Felix Mendelssohn, Hector Berlioz, Franz Liszt. In Russia, Schumann's work was promoted by A. G. Rubinshtein, P. I. Tchaikovsky, G. A. Laroche, and the leaders of the Mighty Handful.

Biography of Schumann - great German composer- like the life of any famous person, was filled with both curious, anecdotal cases, and tragic interweaving of fate. Why did Schumann not become a virtuoso pianist, as he dreamed of in his youth, and why did he have to choose the composer's path? How did this affect his mental health, and where did the famous author end up?

Composer Schumann (biography): childhood and youth

Schumann was born on June 8, 1810 in Germany. Zwickau became his hometown. The father of the future composer was a book publisher, a non-poor man, so he sought to give his son a decent education.

From childhood, the boy showed literary abilities - when Robert studied at the gymnasium, then, in addition to composing poems, dramas and comedies, he also organized independently literary circle. Under the influence of Jean Paul, the young man even composed literary novel. Given all these facts, Schumann's biography could have turned out quite differently - the boy could well follow in the footsteps of his father. But the world of music worried Robert more than literary activity.

Schumann, whose biography and work throughout his life were firmly connected with musical art wrote his first at the age of ten. Perhaps this was the first sign that another great composer was born.

Robert Schumann (short biography): career as a pianist

Schumann began to show interest in playing the piano with early age. He was very impressed by the play of the pianist Moscheles, as well as Paganini. The young man was inspired by the idea of ​​becoming a virtuoso instrumentalist and spared no effort for this.

At first, the future composer took lessons from the organist Kunsht. Under the strict guidance of his first teacher, the boy began to create his own musical works - mostly sketches. After getting acquainted with the work of Schubert, Robert wrote several songs.

However, the parents insisted that their son had a serious education, so Robert went to Leipzig to study law. But Schumann, whose biography, it seemed, could not have turned out differently, is still drawn to music, so he continues to study piano under the guidance of a new teacher, Friedrich Wieck. The latter sincerely believed that his student could become the most virtuoso pianist in Germany.

But Robert pursued his goal too fanatically, so he overdid it with classes - he earned a sprained tendon and said goodbye to his pianist career.

Education

As mentioned above, Schumann studied law at and then at Heidelberg. But Robert never became a lawyer, preferring music.

The beginning of composing

Robert Schumann, whose biography after being injured was completely devoted to composing, most likely was very worried about the fact that he would never be able to fulfill his dream and become famous pianist. Character young man after that he changed - he became taciturn, too vulnerable, stopped joking and playing his friends as soon as he knew how to do it. One day, when he was young, Schumann walked into a shop musical instruments and jokingly introduced himself as the chamberlain of the English lord, who instructed him to choose a piano for music lessons. Robert played all the expensive instruments in the salon, thus amusing onlookers and customers. As a result, Schumann said that in two days he would give the owner of the salon an answer about the purchase, and he, as if nothing had happened, left for another city on his own business.

But in the 30s. he had to say goodbye to his career as a pianist, and the young man devoted himself entirely to creating musical works. It was during this period that he flourished as a composer.

Music Features

Schumann worked in the era of romanticism and, of course, this was reflected in his work.

Robert Schumann, whose biography was in a sense filled with personal experiences, wrote psychological music that was far from folklore motives. Schumann's works are something "personal". His music is very changeable, which reflects the fact that the composer gradually began to fall ill. Schumann himself did not hide the fact that duality is characteristic of his nature.

The harmonious language of his works is more complex than that of his contemporaries. The rhythm of Schumann's creations is quite whimsical and capricious. But this did not prevent the composer from gaining national fame during his lifetime.

Once, while walking in the park, the composer whistled under his breath a theme from Carnival. One of the passers-by made a remark to him: they say, if you have no hearing, then it’s better not to “spoil” the works of a respected composer.

Among the most famous works composers are as follows:

• romance cycles "Poet's Love", "Circle of Songs";
• piano cycles "Butterflies", "Carnival", "Kreislerian", etc.

Musical newspaper

Schumann, whose brief biography would not have been without literature, did not give up his hobby, and applied his literary talent in journalism. With the support of his many friends connected with the world of music, Schumann founded the New Musical Gazette in 1834. Over time, it has become a periodical and quite influential publication. The composer wrote many articles for publication with his own hand. He welcomed everything new in music, so he supported young composers. By the way, Schumann was one of the first to recognize Chopin's talent and wrote a separate article in his honor. Schumann also supported Liszt, Berlioz, Brahms and many other composers.

Often in his articles, the hero of our story had to rebuff many music critics who spoke unflatteringly about his work. Schumann also "created" not quite in the spirit of the times, so he had to defend his views on the art of music.

Personal life

In 1840, closer to the age of 30, Robert Schumann married. His chosen one was the daughter of his teacher, Friedrich Wick.

Clara Wieck was a fairly well-known and virtuoso pianist. She was also related to composing and supported her husband in all endeavors.

Schumann, whose brief biography by the age of 30 was full of musical activity, had never been married, and it seemed that his own personal life did not bother him much. But before the wedding, he honestly warned his future wife that his character is very difficult: he often acts contrary to close and dear people, for some reason it turns out that it hurts exactly those he loves.

But these shortcomings of the composer did not frighten the bride very much. The marriage took place, and Clara Wieck and Robert Schumann lived in marriage until the end of their days, left behind eight children and were buried in the same cemetery.

Health problems and death

Schumann's biography was full of various events, the composer left behind a rich musical and literary heritage. Such an obsession with his work and life could not pass without a trace. Around the age of 35, the composer began to show the first signs of a serious nervous breakdown. For two years he did not write anything.

And although the composer was given various honors, invited to serious positions, he could no longer return to his former life. His nerves were completely shattered.

At 44, the composer for the first time after an attack prolonged depression attempted suicide by throwing himself off a bridge into the Rhine. He was saved, but there were no significant changes in his state of health. Schumann spent two years in psychiatric hospital and died at the age of 46. During all this time, the composer did not create a single work.

Who knows what the composer's life would have been like if he had not injured his fingers and nevertheless became a pianist... Perhaps Schumann, whose biography was cut off at 46, would have lived more long life and would not go crazy.

By the way, there is a version that the composer injured his fingers by creating a home-made simulator for them, similar to the instruments of Henry Hertz and Tiziano Poli. The essence of the simulators is that the middle finger of the hand was tied to a string, which was attached to the ceiling. This tool was designed to train endurance and amplitude of finger opening. But with inept use, it is possible to tear the tendons in this way.

There is another version according to which Schumann had to be treated for syphilis in the then fashionable way - to inhale mercury vapor, which caused by-effect in the form of paralysis of the fingers. But Schumann's wife did not confirm any of these versions.

International Composer Competition

Schumann's biography and his work are so popular in music world that personal competitions and awards are often organized in honor of the famous composer. Back in 1956, the first competition for performers was held in Berlin. academic music, which is called Internationaler Robert-Schumann-Wettbewerb.

The first event was dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the composer's death, and the first winners of the competition were the representative of the GDR Annerose Schmidt in the "Piano" nomination, as well as representatives of the USSR: Alexander Vedernikov, Kira Izotova in the "Vocal" nomination. Subsequently, contestants from the USSR almost every year took top places up until 1985. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, only in 1996 the competition was won by a representative from Russia - Mikhail Mordvinov in the "Piano" nomination.

Robert Schumann Award

R. Schumann, biography and creative legacy which became the pride of world art, gave his name and awards, which have been awarded to performers of academic music since 1964. The award was established by the administration hometown composer - Zwickau. It is awarded only to those figures who promote the composer's music and bring it to the masses. In 2003, the material component of the award was equal to 10,000 euros.

Up until 1989 the names Soviet leaders art often made it to the list of prize winners. The representative from Russia then appeared in the list of laureates only in 2000. Olga Loseva became the laureate of the award that year, since then the prize has not been awarded to immigrants from the CIS countries even once.

He was forbidden to love, ordered to forget about Clara Wieck ... But he still married for love. The wife was not only talented, a match for her husband, but also devoted to him until her death ...

Become a genius to begin with

Born 1810, in Zwickau (Germany). He was raised, surrounded by admiration and adoration. After all, the boy early childhood showed outstanding abilities in literature and music. However, after Robert graduated from high school in his native Zwickau, his mother did not believe that her son could become famous composer. After all, how much can you make a living with music? And how to compete with the likes of Mendelssohn or Chopin? How wrong she was! After all, despite the years spent studying law, Robert definitely decided: music is in the first place for him.

He gave up everything to develop his talent. But another impetus was parting with married mistress Agnes Karus. Having met in the house of an acquaintance, he fell in love with her singing, but this romance did not have a happy ending. Although ... Whatever is done is for the best: it was Agnes who brought Robert to Professor Vic. After some time, Schumann settled in the house of a mentor and music teacher, Friedrich Wieck. Six or seven hours at the piano, developing his fingers, was not the limit for him. He would love to play all day long. By the way, due to excessive zeal, the future composer developed hand anemia.

Pianist from God

In addition to a gifted student, Vik also had a very talented daughter. Her name was Clara. When she was five, her father divorced her mother. And two years later, Friedrich had already painted further fate daughter, presenting her at the altar of music. Already at the age of eleven, she performed solo for the first time, and a year later she went on tour. Submission came to an end when she met Robert Schumann. He was nine years older than her, but the music blurred that line between them.

Robert Schumann looked at her differently

Years passed, and the little smiling girl turned into a real lady. She was already seventeen, and Robert could not take away from her eyes. They spent a lot of time together, and Schumann decided to confess his feelings. It happened when she went out to walk him to the door late at night. Robert suddenly turned around and kissed her. Clara almost lost consciousness - her heart fluttered so much. He proposed to her, and the girl agreed. The lovers even went for a blessing to Schumann's mother.

The only one who did not perceive them as a couple was Clara's father. Maybe paternal jealousy surged up in him ... It is absolutely known that he refused such a dysfunctional son-in-law. Not only does he not have sufficient finances, but there are also rumors about depression and drunkenness, in which he drowns his feelings.

Friedrich Wieck took his daughter on a long tour. It was strictly forbidden to communicate or correspond with Clara! A year and a half long silence followed, followed by a four-year war for happiness.

If you really love...

Separation improved well-being Schuman but his heart is still hurt. He was going to do everything in his power and get Clara back!

“Are you still faithful and firm? - Robert wrote timidly in a letter. - No matter how unshakably I believe in you, the most firm courage will be shaken when nothing is heard about what is dearest to a person in the world. And for me, the most precious thing in the world is you.

She was glad to hear from him, but her father still stood between them. Nevertheless, Clara replied: “Are you only asking me for a simple “yes”? Such a tiny word, and so important? But really, a heart full of inexpressible love, like mine, should not pronounce this word with all my heart? So I do, and my soul whispers to you an eternal "yes."

Defend fate in court

In June 1839, the Royal High Court of Appeal of the city of Leipzig accepted for consideration a petition from famous composer Robert Schumann. The appeal read: “We, the undersigned and Clara Wieck, have for several years now had a joint and heartfelt desire to unite with each other. However, Clara's father, Friedrich Wieck, a piano dealer, despite numerous friendly requests, stubbornly refuses to give his consent. Therefore, we make a humble request to compel the said gentleman to give his paternal blessing to the conclusion of a marriage union by us, or to deign to give his most merciful permission instead.

Of course, such an action caused a huge scandal. Conciliation meetings were held on several occasions, but Vic refused to appear in court. Moreover, he set unthinkable conditions for his son-in-law (mostly of a material nature). When Schuman refused, the father of his beloved went to a completely ungentlemanly act, denigrating the names of the young, spreading disgusting rumors.

In December, Vic had to appear before a judge. He did not leave attempts to accuse Schumann of all mortal sins. A family quarrel escalated into something completely incomprehensible. The judge had to urge Vic to calm down several times. But when Clara was asked with whom she wanted to leave the hall, and the answer was: “With my lover,” the father became completely furious, yelling: “Then I will curse you! And God forbid, one day you will come to my house as a beggar, with a bunch of children!” That day she cried a lot, and Schuman wrote in his notebook: "Never forget what Clara had to endure for you!"

Friedrich Wieck managed to delay the process for another six months, but he lost. Moreover, Clara's father after the trial was sentenced for slandering Schumann to 18 days in prison.

with Clara Wieck

joking Schuman V last time before the wedding, he warned the girl: “I have many shortcomings, dear. And one is simply unbearable. To the people I love the most, I try to prove my love by doing things to spite them. For example, you will say to me: "Dear Robert, answer this letter, it has been lying for a long time." And what do you think I'll do? I will find a thousand reasons not to do this - for nothing! .. And also, dear, you need to know that I accept the most sincere expressions of love coldly, and I offend those whom I love the most, most of all ... horrible man". But her love was too great to give up because of such a trifle.

On September 12, 1840, Robert and Clara were finally married. Schumann thanked heaven and God for this gift. He composed 138 beautiful songs - hymns of triumphant love. And Clara gave him all this creative power. Having become a single whole, they overshadowed their rivals with their music. Only when Vic was convinced that his son-in-law had achieved universal recognition and fame did he write: “Dear Schumann! Now we don't have to be far apart. You are also a father now, why long explanations? Your father Friedrich Wieck is waiting for you with joy.”

black cloud

In Leipzig, the couple's house has become a real center musical life cities. But the whole problem was that he was called "the salon of the incomparable Clara." Despite the fact that popular and really recognized Schuman He works hard, he is loved and his house is a full bowl ... He suffers, considering his existence to be just a shadow of the bright life of his wife. In two months of concerts, Clara earned more than he did in a year. His soul inevitably plunged into the darkness of madness. Schumann fell ill, he began to see hallucinations.

“Oh, Clara, I am not worthy of your love. I know I'm sick and I want to be admitted to a psychiatric hospital."

From there he went out one day to drown himself. However, he was saved, and the rest of his life Schuman looked at the world from the window of the ward, not seeing the children and wife. Only two days before his death, Clara was allowed to visit Robert. But he could no longer tell her anything ... In 1856, the composer died.

End of Clara Schumann's journey

She moved to Baden-Baden. Successfully toured the cities of Europe. Clara remained a famous pianist until her death. In 1878 she received an invitation to become "the first piano teacher" at the newly established Hoch Conservatory in Frankfurt am Main, where she taught for 14 years. Clara edited the works Robert Schumann and published a number of his letters. She gave her last concert on March 12, 1891. She was 71 years old. Clara Schumann suffered a stroke five years later and died a few months later at the age of 76. According to her wish, she was buried in Bonn in the Old Cemetery next to her husband.

DATA

Robert and Clara had eight children. Schumann accompanied his wife in concert trips, and she often performed her husband's music.

Schuman was a teacher at the Leipzig Conservatory, founded by F. Mendelssohn.

In 1844, Schumann took a tour with his wife to St. Petersburg and Moscow, where they were received with great honor.

Updated: April 14, 2019 by: Elena

Robert Schumann's brief biography of the German composer is set out in this article.

Biography and work of Robert Schumann

Robert Schumann was born June 8, 1810 in the small town of Zwickau, in absolutely no musical family. His parents were publishing books. They also wanted to addict the child to this business, but being at the age of seven, Robert showed a passion for music.

He enters the University of Leipzig in 1828 at the faculty of jurisprudence. While in Leipzig, Robert meets Wieck, the best piano teacher, and begins taking lessons from him. A year later, realizing that a lawyer is far from the profession that he wants to master, Schumann moves to Heidelberg University. He returned to Leipzig in 1830 and continued to take piano lessons from Wieck. In 1831 he gets injured right hand and the career of the great pianist came to an end. But Schumann did not even think about giving up music - he began to write musical works and mastered the profession of music critic.

Robert Schumann founded the New Musical Journal in Leipzig, and until 1844 was its editor, principal author and publisher. He paid special attention to writing musical works for the piano. The most significant cycles are Butterflies, Variations, Carnival, Davidsbüdler Dances, Fantastic Pieces. In 1838, he wrote several real masterpieces - Novels, Children's Scenes and Kreislerian.

When it was time to get married, in 1840 Robert married Clara Wieck, the daughter of his music teacher. She was known as a talented pianist. During the years of his marriage, he also wrote a number of symphonic works - Paradise and Peri, Requiem and Mass, Requiem for Mignon, scenes from the work "Faust".

ROBERT SCHUMANN

ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: GEMINI

NATIONALITY: GERMAN

MUSICAL STYLE: CLASSICISM

SIGNIFICANT WORK: "DREAMS" FROM THE CYCLE "CHILDREN'S SCENES"

WHERE YOU COULD HEAR THIS MUSIC: Oddly enough, “DREAMS” WERE FREQUENTLY SOUND IN THE AMERICAN ANIMATION SERIES MERRY TUNES, INCLUDING IN THE CARTOON “LIKE A BANTIC HARE” (1944) WITH “PARTICIPATION” BUGS BUNY.

WISE WORDS: "IN ORDER TO COMPOSE MUSIC, YOU ONLY NEED TO REMEMBER THE MOTIVE WHICH HAVE INTERESTED NO ONE BEFORE YOU".

The life of Robert Schumann is a love story. And as in any good love story, there is a strong, ardent youth, a charming girl with character and a vile, vile scoundrel. Love eventually wins, and the couple in love lives happily ever after.

Unless this couple spent too much time together. In the life of Robert Schumann - and, of course, in his marriage to Clara Wieck - illness unceremoniously broke into the composer, turning the composer into a weak-willed victim of noisy demons and terrible hallucinations. He will die in an insane asylum, so mentally damaged that in the end he will no longer recognize his beloved.

But Schumann's tragic end is followed by a touching epilogue. Clara's life without Robert, the man she's adored since she was eight, is also kind of a beautiful love story.

GUY MEETS GIRL

Schumann was born in 1810 in Zwickau, a city in eastern Germany, in Saxony. His father, August Schumann, was a book publisher and writer. Robert showed an early interest in music, but his parents considered law to be a much more promising profession. In 1828, Schumann entered the University of Leipzig, but, instead of mastering the intricacies of law, Schumann crammed himself into the pupils of Friedrich Wieck, who was considered by many - and above all himself - to be the best piano teacher in Europe.

Probably, Schumann was very upset when he realized that as a pianist he was no match for Vic's eight-year-old daughter Clara. Vic put his daughter at the instrument at the age of five with the intention of making her a musical prodigy and thereby proving that his pedagogical method there is no equal, if he is from a girl - a girl! - managed to achieve a virtuoso game. Both students quickly became friends, Schumann read fairy tales to Clara, bought sweets - in a word, he behaved like an older brother, inclined to pamper his sister. The girl, forced to study from morning to night, had few joys in life, and she did not look for the soul in Robert.

The young man made a lot of efforts to become a virtuoso pianist. Natural talent helped - until pain appeared in the middle finger of the right hand, and then numbness. Hoping to restore flexibility to the finger, Schumann used a mechanical device, which completely ruined the finger. Out of grief, he began to compose music and soon regained his self-confidence. In 1832 he made his debut with his First Symphony.

Meanwhile, Schumann had an affair with a maid named Kristel - and contracted syphilis. A doctor he knew gave Schumann a moral and gave him a medicine that had no effect on the bacteria. However, after a few weeks, the ulcers healed, and Schumann rejoiced, deciding that the disease had receded.

A GUY BREAKS OFF A GIRL - FOR A TIME

When Vic and Clara left for a long tour of Europe, Schumann developed a stormy activity. He composed a lot; founded the New Musical Journal, which soon turned into a rather influential publication, in which Schumann explained to the public what good composers like Berlioz, Chopin and Mendelssohn were. He even managed to get engaged to a certain Ernestine von Fricken; however, not for long.

Clara returned from the tour. She was only sixteen, Schumann was twenty-five, but between a sixteen-year-old girl and an eight-year-old girl there is a huge difference. Clara had long loved Schumann, and in the winter of 1835 he already fell in love with her. Lovely courtship, furtive kisses, dancing at Christmas parties - everything was exceptionally innocent, but not in the eyes of Friedrich Wieck. Father forbade Clara to see Robert.

For almost two years, Vic kept the young people at a distance from each other, but the separation did not cool, but only strengthened their feelings. Wieck's objections to the marriage between his daughter and Robert were to some extent justified: Schumann earned his living by composing music and magazine publications, he had no other income, and marrying Clara, not accustomed to housekeeping, was simply beyond his means - spouses would need an entire army of servants. Vic had a different mercantile interest (perhaps not too reasonable) - he counted on the brilliant musical future of Clara herself. The years spent training Clara were seen by her father as an investment that was bound to pay off with a vengeance. And Schumann, from the point of view of Wieck, strove to deprive him of the desired wealth.

Vic resisted desperately. He again sent his daughter on a months-long tour, accused Schumann of immorality and depravity, and constantly put forward new demands, knowing full well that Schumann was not able to fulfill them. The legislation of Saxony was only to his advantage. Even having reached the age of majority, that is, eighteen years old, Clara could not marry without the consent of her father. Vic refused consent, and the young people sued him. The battle dragged on for years. Vic even tried to ruin his daughter's career by telling concert organizers not to mess with this "fallen, corrupt, disgusting" woman. Serious passions were in full swing, and yet on September 12, 1840, the young people got married, the day before Clara's twenty-first birthday. It's been five years since their first kiss.

KLARABERT - LONG BEFORE BRANGELINA

Marriage Schumann surprisingly resembles the modern way of "housekeeping". Robert and Clara were professionals, and neither of them was going to give up work for the sake of the family. This meant that they had to negotiate and find compromises, since the thin walls of their apartment did not allow both of them to sit at their pianos at the same time. There was never enough money. Clara's tours brought a fair amount of income, but this meant that either the spouses parted for a long time, or Robert was dragging around the world after his wife.

In addition, you can’t go on tour pregnant, and Clara often became pregnant. In fourteen years she gave birth to eight children (only one died in infancy) and suffered at least two miscarriages. The Schumanns adored their children, and Robert enjoyed teaching them how to play the piano. Some of Schumann's most popular writings were written for his children.

The Schumanns spent the first years of their marriage in Leipzig (where they closely communicated with the Mendelssohns), then they moved to Dresden. In 1850, the composer was offered the position of General Music Director ( music director) Düsseldorf. Schumann had long dreamed of working with a choir and orchestra, but he clearly overestimated his abilities. He turned out to be a bad conductor. He was very nearsighted and could hardly distinguish the first violins in the orchestra, not to mention the drums at the back of the stage. And besides, he lacked the charisma that is highly desirable for a successful conductor. After a very disastrous concert in October 1853, he was fired.

ANGELS AND DEMONS

Health problems also played a role in the failure of Schumann's conducting career. The composer suffered from headaches, dizziness and "nervous attacks" that put him to bed. Last year in Düsseldorf turned out to be especially difficult: Schumann stopped hearing high notes, often dropped his stick, lost his sense of rhythm.

PURSUED BY A VISION OF A CHOIR OF ANGELS TURNING DEMONS, SCHUMANN WAS AS WELL, IN A robe AND SLIPPERS, DIVING INTO THE RHINE.

And then the worst began. Schumann heard beautiful music and the singing of a choir of angels. Suddenly, the angels turned into demons and tried to drag him to hell. Schumann warned the pregnant Clara, telling her not to come near him or he might hit her.

On the morning of February 27, 1854, Schumann slipped out of the house - he was wearing only a dressing gown and slippers - and rushed to the Rhine. Somehow he got past the barrier at the entrance to the bridge, climbed onto the railing and threw himself into the river. Fortunately, his strange appearance attracted the attention of passers-by; Schumann was quickly pulled out of the water, wrapped in a blanket and taken home.

Soon he was placed in a private hospital for the mentally ill. Sometimes he was quiet and pleasant in conversation and even composed a little. But more often, Schumann screamed, driving away the visions, and fought with the orderlies. His physical condition steadily worsened. In the summer of 1856 he refused to take food. On last date with Clara, Robert could hardly speak and did not get out of bed. But it seemed to Clara that he recognized her and even tried to hug her. There was no tough enough person nearby to explain to her: Schumann has not recognized anyone for a long time and does not control his movements. Two days later, on July 29, 1856, he died.

What killed his talent and brought him to the grave at the relatively young age of forty-six? Modern physicians almost unanimously assert that Schumann suffered from tertiary syphilis. The infection had smoldered in his body for twenty-four years. Clara did not become infected because syphilis is not sexually transmitted in the latent phase. One dose of penicillin would put the composer back on his feet.

Clara was left a widow with seven children. She refused the help of friends who offered to arrange charity concerts, stating that she will provide for herself. And provided for many years - successful tours. She often played her husband's music and raised the children in love with a father whom the younger children did not even remember. About her long and difficult relationship with Johannes Brahms will be discussed in the chapter on this composer, but for now we just note that if Clara eventually fell in love with someone else, she never stopped loving Robert.

Clara outlived Schumann by forty years. Their marriage lasted only sixteen years, and the last two years Schumann was insane - and yet Clara remained faithful to him until his death.

TWO SHOOS IN THE MUSIC RING

Due to the similar sounding of Schumann's names, they often cannot be distinguished from another composer, Schubert. Let's be clear: Franz Schubert was born in a suburb of Vienna in 1797. He studied composition with Salieri and managed to achieve fame. Like Schumann, he suffered from syphilis and apparently drank heavily. Schubert died in 1828 and was buried next to his friend Beethoven. Today he is mainly appreciated for his "Unfinished Symphony" and "Trout" Quintet.

There are not so many similarities between these two people, except for the occupation and the same first syllable in the name. However, they are now and then confused; the most famous blunder occurred in 1956, when a stamp issued in the GDR featured Schumann's image superimposed on music piece of music Schubert.

NOTHING WILL STOP CLARA SCHUMANN - EVEN THE PRUSIAN ARMY

The Dresden uprising in May 1849 led to the expulsion of the Saxon royal family and the establishment of a provisional democratic government, but the achievements of the revolution had to be defended against Prussian troops. Schuman was a Republican all his life, but having four small children and a pregnant wife, he was not eager to be a hero on the barricades. When activists came to his house and forcibly recruited him into a revolutionary detachment, the Schumans eldest daughter Mary fled the city.

The three younger children were left with the housekeeper in relative safety, but naturally the family wanted to be reunited. Therefore, Clara, leaving a safe haven in countryside, resolutely headed for Dresden. She left at three o'clock in the morning, accompanied by a servant, left the carriage a mile from the city, and, bypassing the barricades, reached the house on foot. She picked up the sleeping children, grabbed some of her clothes and also moved back on foot, paying no attention to either the fiery revolutionaries or the Prussians, big fans of shooting. Courage and courage this amazing woman was not to take.

MILCHALNIK SCHUMANN

Schumann was famous for his taciturnity. In 1843, Berlioz told how he realized that his "Requiem" was really good: even the silent Schumann approved this work aloud. On the contrary, Richard Wagner was furious when, having spoken out about everything in the world, from the musical life in Paris to the politics of Germany, he did not receive a word from Schumann in response. "An impossible man," Wagner declared to Liszt. Schumann, for his part, remarked that his young colleague (actually Richard Wagner was only three years younger than Schumann) was "gifted with incredible loquacity ... it is tiring to listen to him."

WITH THIS TO MY WIFE PLEASE

It's not easy being married to a brilliant pianist. One day, after a magnificent performance by Clara, a gentleman approached the Schumanns to congratulate the performer. Feeling that he needed to say something to his husband, the man turned to Robert and politely asked: “Tell me, sir, are you also fond of music?”