In Zwickau, Germany on June 8, 1810 Robert Alexander Schumann was to bookseller father, Friedrich August Schumann, and mother, Johanna (Christiane Schnabel). By being an author, publisher, and lover of books, Friedrich Schumann influenced his child’s younger years; Robert spent much of his time reading books such as the Greek classics, the imaginary Romantic tales of Byron and Sir Walkter Scott, as well as other Romantic literature and poetry. Literature interested Robert so much that when he was fifteen he created a small society among his friends to interpret readings. He wished to become a poet saying, “I possess imagination, but I am not a profound thinker.” He later added, “The strange thing is that where my feelings make themselves most strongly felt I am forced to cease being a poet; at such times I can never arrive at adequate ideas.”

Robert not only had a passion for literature, but a

The obvious trends in Rhythm were freedom and flexibility. Cross rhythms were popular as well as simple subdivisions against irregular subdivisions (duplets against triplets and so on). Chopin often used this technique in his piano music with the numerous notes for the right-hand against a steady accompaniment for the left-hand. Rhythms were generally “Stylized dance rhythms.”

Dynamics were more widely used for expression. The tempo and expression markings increased in complexity as the Romantic period grew on; such extremes of ppppp and fffff were used.

Although Romanticism prided itself in the unimaginable, there were many trends:

Following his father’s death in 1826, Schumann decided to choose music rather than poetry as his future; however, Schumann’s mother had her heart set on his becoming a lawyer and she rejected his musical and literary interests as the “indiscretion of youth.” After Schumann finished his high school studies, his mother sent him to the University of Leipzig for law study. Although he worked the best he could, he hated them and found comfort by attending the Gewandhaus concerts, socializing with musical friends, and continuing piano study with a gifted Leipzig teacher, Friedrich Wieck. It was this division of studies and energy between a duty he loathed and an expressive activity he adored that undoubtedly brought upon him a severe case of melancholia, a mental disorder characterized by severe depression, guilt, hopelessness, and withdrawal.

This vigor inspired everyone; the Romantic period was that time of artists, scientists, and great thinkers. In contrast to Classicism conservatism in expression with stress on refinement, balance, control, proportion, and symmetry, Romanticism emphasized emotion and individual expression. Romanticism sought the unusual, the fantastic, and the boundless extremes. Driven by the disproportionate ideas, Romantic composers made the tiny piano piece and the lyrical song, which held no importance in the Classical period, the most significant forms of the time. Romanticism seems to purposely go against the ideals of Classicism by cherishing freedom of expression, movement, passion, and imagination. Instead of being governed by rules of structure, Romanticism always longed for the unobtainable.

Some topics in this essay:
Industrial Revolution, Schumann Schubert, Holland Clara, Clara Robert, Friedrich Wieck, Robert Indeed, Quartet Schumann’s, Fast Possible”, Clara Wieck, Suddenly Schumann, romantic composers, romantic period, robert schumann, schumann’s music, friedrich wieck, classical music, schumann soon, chamber music, clara wieck, string quartets piano, piano study,