Among the greatest composers of the nineteenth century, along with Tchaikovsky and Liszt, include Robert Schumann. The Schumann period means a whole era of romanticism in the musical world.
The critic and composer Robert Schumann was born in Zwickau in 1810, on June 8. The parents of the future famous writer had to overcome obstacles in order to be together. Schumann's father was denied marriage to Johanna because of poverty. The young man earned for a year both for a wedding and for his own business.
Study time
Five children grew up in a friendly loving family. Cheerful and mischievous Robert was very much like his mother, different from the serious and silent father. Studying for the boy began at the age of six. Parents quickly noticed the son's musical abilities and sent him to learn to play the piano. Soon a composer's talent for orchestral music was discovered.
From childhood, literary abilities were also manifested. Robert wrote poetry, composed comedies and dramas. He organized a literary circle. The young man even wrote a novel. The wealthy head of the family dreamed of a good education for his son and the realization of his gifts.
Robert wrote his first piece of music at ten. He was taught by an organist who helped the boy learn the basics of composition.
The young man was at a loss for a long time with the choice of future activities. He was torn between literature and music. My father advised me to develop my literary talent. Everything was decided by the concert of the conductor and pianist Moshales. After his visit, doubts disappeared. Mother dreamed of a legal career for her offspring. However, she did not oppose the choice of her son.
Robert moved to Leipzig to study law. At the same time, he began classes with Friedrich Wieck, who promised his student a brilliant career. However, the hand disease that developed due to excessive zeal forced the young performer to stop lessons. He started writing. The collapse of hopes changed the character of the young man. He became serious and taciturn.
Purpose
In 1834, with the support of his mentor, Robert founded the "New Musical Newspaper". He criticized the publication and ridiculed the indifference to art. Gradually it became a very influential periodical. In it, Robert supported young composers. He was one of the first to write about Chopin, talking about his talent.
The musician's compositions were noticeably different from those familiar at that time. Therefore, I had to defend my own views under a pseudonym. The music played with romantic colors. In the piano cycle "Carnival" you can see colorful scenes, female images, carnival masks. At the same time, Schumann worked on vocal works, preferring lyric songs.
His work "Album for Youth" deserves a special mention. The eldest daughter of the composer received it as a gift on her 7th birthday. The notebook included works by famous authors, eight were written by Schumann himself.
For Robert, all the work mattered, since he did not perceive the existing musical level as ideal. The works of the author do not resemble folk and folklore works. The collection consisted of plays "Santa Claus", "Spring Song", "Winter", and "Merry Peasant" that were understandable and easy for children.
During his creative career, the author has created four symphonies. The main part of his creative work was made up of works for the piano. These are lyrical cycles connected by a single storyline.
Contemporaries did not accept the new music. Refinement and romance turned out to be out of tune with Europe, which is shaken by change. Colleagues did not lag behind. Even the famous romanticist Liszt accepted single pieces. But modern filmmaking actively uses the works of Schumann. They sound in the films "Doctor House", "The Mysterious Story of Benjamin Button" and "The Grandfather of Easy Behavior."
Personal life
The future chosen one of the composer, Clara Josephine Wieck, had known him for a long time. Her father taught Schumann. Friedrich Wieck categorically condemned the developing relationship between young people. He in every possible way opposed the wedding of his daughter and student. But the obstacles did not work. In 1840, young people became husband and wife. This year Schumann created over a hundred works. At the same time, he received his doctorate in philosophy from the University of Leipzig.
Clara became famous as a famous pianist. Schumann accompanied her husband on all her concert trips. The family had eight children. At first, life looked like a happy fairy tale. After a few years, Robert began to show symptoms of a nervous breakdown. The famous composer could hardly put up with the fame of his wife. It seemed to him that he was hiding behind her. Mental torment led to a two-year break in creativity. About the relationship between Robert and Clara in 1947, the feature film "Song of Love" was filmed.
In 1953 the Schumans went to Holland. There, the symptoms of Robert's illness worsened. He ended up in the clinic. The great composer died in 1956, on July 29.
In memory of Schumann, international competitions are held in his name. In 1856 the first Internationaler Robert-Schumann-Wettbewerb took place in Berlin. It was timed to coincide with the centenary of the death of the writer. The first winners were Annerose Schmidt, Alexander Vedernikov, Kira Izotova.
Schumann's name has also been awarded in the field of academic music since 1964. The award was established in the composer's hometown. It is awarded to figures promoting Schumann's music.
