Robert Schumann

By: Gut and Earn 1202

Biography

Birth date : 8 June 1810

Birthplace : Zwickau (now is Germany)

Date of death : 29 July 1856

Period of Music : Romantic Era

Instrument : Piano
Facts about Robert Schumann
1. He fell in love with 15 years old girl, Clara Wieck, his piano teacher’s daughter.
2. He suffered from depression and bipolar disorder, which are the causes of his death.
3. When he was young, he usually spent his time reading books, such as the works of
Jean Paul Richter, Heinrich Heine, and Joseph von Eichendorff, at his father’s
bookshop.
4. He was the fifth and the last child of Johanna Christiane and August Schumann.
5. He could not see his wife until the day before his death because of his mental illness.
When did Robert Schumann begin studying/composing
● He began studying playing piano since he was 6 years old in Zwickau High School.
● When he was 18 years old, he studied piano seriously with with Friedrich Wieck.
● He started composing when he was 19
Years old. His first composition is
Op. 1, Abegg Variations (1830).
Robert Schumann’s music influences
● In 1827, he was influenced by Franz Schubert, Austrian composer, and Jean Paul
Richter, the literary influence of the German poet.
● Moreover, most of his composition refers to his wife,
Clara Schumann.
Types of music Robert Schumann wrote?
● He had composed variety types of music.
1. Orchestral
- E.g. Symphony No. 3 in E flat major Op. 97
2. Chamber
- E.g. Piano Quintet Op. 44
3. Choral
- E.g. Missa sacra Op.147
- Op. 147, Missa sacra (1852)
Piano Concerto, Op.54
● Period : Romantic period
● Style : Romantic
● Instrument : 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2
clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, 2
trumpets, timpani, strings, and solo
piano.
● Composition Year: 1841 - 1845
Papillons
● Period : Romantic period
● Style : Romantic
● Instrument : Piano
● Composition Year: 1829 - 1831
Cello Concerto Op.129
● Period : Romantic Period
● Style : Romantic
● Instrument : solo cello, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, 2 trumpets,
timpani, and strings.
● Composition Year: 1850
Symphony No 3 Op.97
● Period : Romantic period
● Style : Romantic
● Instrument : 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2
bassoons, 4 french horns, 2 trumpets, 3
trombones, timpani and strings.
● Composition Year: 1850
 Piano Quintet Op.44
● Period : Romantic period
● Style : Romantic
● Instrument : Piano and string quartets which are
2 violins, viola, and cello
● Composition Year: 1842
Compare and Contrast

Category Piano Concerto Papillons Cello Concerto Symphony No 3 Piano Quintet

Instrument Solo piano Piano Solo cello Orchestra Quintets

Movement 3 12 3 5 4

Cord A minor - A minor E-flat major E-flat major

References
Jensen, E. F. (2011). Schumann. New York: Oxford University Press.

Libbey, T. (2010, July 7). The Life And Music Of Robert Schumann. Retrieved from
https://www.npr.org/2011/07/18/127038609/the-life-and-music-of-robert-schumannhttp://kidsmusiccorner.co.uk/composers/classical/sc
humann/

Finson, J. W. (2007). Robert Schumann : the book of songs. Cambridge, Mass. : Harvard University Press, 2007.