Robert and Clara Schumann (photo) (audio)

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Robert Schumann, a talented composer who contributed much to the Romantic movement, and Clara Schumann, a gifted pianist were both married to each other. Some of Robert Schumann’s best work was written with his wife Clara in mind.

Robert Schumann at first decided to take up law became he wanted his mother, who imagined Robert to be a lawyer, happy. At age eighteen, he began studying law. However, his real interest lied in music and he wished to become a pianist. However, his fingers were handicap in that they were weak. After years of self-therapy and exercises to strengthen his fingers, Schumann began composing instead.

He met the German-born Clara Wieck many years before Robert Schumann

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proposed to her in 1835. It wasn’t until 1838, however when he received Clara’s father’s approval in the marriage. Schumann began getting sick in the mid to late 1940s. He was also frequently depressed and his wife tried to console him often. Sometimes, Brahms, a friend of the family helped as well. Schumann even tried to commit suicide by jumping into the the Rhine River. Fortunately, he was saved but on July 29th, 1856, Schumann succumbed to his illness and died.

Schumann wrote many piano pieces, one opera, four symphonies, chamber music for the violin, cello and piano, and nearly two-hundred songs.