Schumann Life and Musical Career

Question 1

Birth and Death dates

Answer 1

1810 - 1856

Question 2

Born where, what his father did, and background for music

Answer 2

Zwickau, Germany; Father was an author, publisher, and bookseller; Schumann’s attraction to music was sparked after hearing the celebrated pianist Ignaz Moscheles

Question 3

Whose poetry became and important source for his Leider?

Answer 3

Heinrich Heine

Question 4

Began piano lessons with who and studied theory and counterpoint with who

Answer 4

Friedrich Wieck in Leipzig and lived in the Wieck household where he met 9-year old Clara (HIS FUTURE WIFE); Heinrich Dorn

Question 5

First publication and after that?

Answer 5

Abegg Variations for solo piano in 1830, then continued to focus on composing works for piano for the next decade

Question 6

What inspired the characters of “Eusebius” and “Florestan”?

Answer 6

Hearing the music of Chopin for the first time which resulted in publication of the article “An Opus Two” in 1831, where he introduced the two

Question 7

Early signs of what in 1833

Answer 7

Emotional instability (me too tbh)

Question 8

Co-founded what with Friedrich Wieck?

Answer 8

New Journal of Music (Neue Zeitschrljsei

Question 9

Met who in 1835 at the Wieck home

Answer 9

Mendelssohn, resulted in lifelong mutual admiration (cute)

Question 10

Fell in love with WHO AND WHAT HAPPENED

Answer 10

Clara Wieck (engaged in 1837); Friedrich vehemently opposed the relationship and went to extremes to keep them apart. Resulted in his “year of song,” where he wrote over 150 songs (Han Jisung moment) (KIDDING)

Question 11

How did they marry?

Answer 11

Successfully petitioned the courts; in 1840, made a “statement” by getting married on the eve of Clara’s 21st birthday (when she no longer needed father’s permission) slay

Question 12

How was the marriage?

Answer 12

Produced 7 children (jeez) but Robert’s mental instability caused tension in their relationship

Question 13

Robert was appointed what at the Leipzig Conservatory in 1843

Answer 13

Professor

Question 14

Where did they move and what persisted

Answer 14

Moved to Dresden, his mental instability persisted (real)

Question 15

What in Dresden made the family move. When and where, and what did Robert do after

Answer 15

Political unrest; resettled in Dusseldorf in 1850, where Robert was named municipal music director

Question 16

Met who and did what (yeah very descriptive yw)

Answer 16

21 year old Johannes Brahms; published enthusiastic article (also LAST) about him, which led to widespread fame for Brahms

Question 17

How did he spend final years in life

Answer 17

So he attempted suicide by jumping off a bridge into the Rhine river (real) and spent final years in an asylum (REAL)