During the Romantic Era, women musicians did not generally perform in public. Especially not eleven-year-old girls. But that’s exactly what young Clara Schumann (née Wieck) did in 1830 after her father recognized her virtuosic abilities on the piano. Schumann grew up to be one of the most famous concert pianists of the time, constantly pushing boundaries and fighting for her husband’s music. She also did some teaching and composing when she wasn’t performing or raising her children. Let’s take a closer look at the life of Clara Schumann.
About Clara Schumann (1819-1896)
Schumann grew up surrounded by music. Her mother, Marianne Tromliz, was a famous singer, and her father, Friedrich Wieck, was a music teacher. He recognized Schumann’s talent at a very young age and began giving her daily one-hour lessons in piano, violin, singing, theory, harmony, composition, and counterpoint. She then had to practice for two hours every day. (It’s no wonder she was such an amazing musician.)
A Piano Virtuoso: “A Celebrated Artist”
Once she formally established herself as a serious, virtuosic concert pianist in 1830, Schumann gave her next set of recitals in Vienna seven years later. Audiences clambered to hear her perform; in fact, one anonymous critic said of her playing:
“The appearance of this artist [Clara] can be regarded as epoch-making… In her creative hands, the most ordinary passage, the most routine motive acquires a significant meaning, a
colour , which only those with the most consummate artistry can give.”
And composer/pianist Frédéric Chopin highly praised the young girl’s playing to fellow composer/pianist Franz Liszt (both of whom were piano virtuosos themselves). Edvard Grieg called her “one of the most soulful and famous pianists of the day”.
Schumann changed the very face of performing for pianists. She was one of the first musicians to perform entire recitals by memory, turning that into the standard for concert pianists. And because of her fame and abilities, she often premiered new works by composers, which changed what was expected of pianists to perform in concerts.
Her Relationship with Robert
Clara Schumann was only 9 years old when she first met her future husband, Robert Schumann (1810-1856). He was a young, gifted pianist who abandoned his law studies for music lessons with Clara’s father after he first heard her perform. They spent the next several years playing music together, taking lessons from Friedrich Wieck, and solidifying their relationship. In 1837, when Clara was 18, Robert proposed and she accepted.
Unfortunately, Wieck did not approve of the match and forbid the marriage. The engaged couple took the case to court and won, and their marriage took place on September 12, 1840 – almost three years after the proposal.
Even though Robert was a wonderful composer in his own right, Clara was – for the majority of the time – the money maker of the family. She performed concerts and premiered many of her husband’s compositions, bringing him fame through her incredible playing ability. However, as their family started growing, she had to reduce her performances (and her own composing) so she could raise and nurture their 8 children. But she never stopped playing, and after her husband passed away, she hit the concert stage again at full force.
Family Tragedies
Over the course of their marriage, Robert slowly lost his mental health and spent the last two years of his life in an asylum. Four of her children also died before her, leaving her to raise many of her grandchildren in her old age. Schumann’s life was filled with trials. From the hardships she dealt with at the hand of her father to family illness, she turned to her music as one of the few constants in her life.
Schumann’s Compositions
Along with playing the piano, Schumann used composition as a creative outlet. She wrote that “composing gives me great pleasure… there is nothing that surpasses the joy of
Although she spent her life performing and premiering her husband Robert’s compositions, she died relatively unknown as a composer. It wasn’t until the second half of the 20th century – more than 50 years after she died – that Schumann’s own compositions started gaining popularity and she started gaining the recognition she deserved for her incredible musical voice.
Musical Style
Schumann’s musical style has been described as subtle with depth yet bold, virtuosic, and defiantly original. Her intimate knowledge of the piano allowed her to achieve some truly beautiful music. Let’s take a look at some of her works:
Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 7 (1833-35)
Schumann began composing her Piano Concerto in A minor when she was only 14 years old. The first movement is incredibly tricky and dramatic, which just shows how exceptional her own playing was! The second movement (7:08) is simple and graceful, foreshadowing Schumann’s later compositional style. The stern yet grand third movement (12:00) finishes with a flourish.
Piano Trio, Op. 17 (1846)
This electric work masterfully combines the three instruments to create a seamless voice of counterpoint and texture. Each of the four movements has its own character, yet they work together to create a harmonically complex, emotionally charged piece of music. This composition has been labeled as one of Schumann’s best pieces.
6 Lieder aus Jucunde, Op. 23 (1853)
The text from 6 Lieder
Drei Romanzen, Op. 21 (1853-55)
One of Schumann’s most mature works, Drei Romanzen (Three Romances) is a wonderfully shimmering composition that tells her life story. From sadness to happiness to drama and romance, this piece has it all. She finished composing it after Robert had been admitted to the asylum, and you can hear some of that tension in this work.
Clara Schumann was a musical force. She left a mark on the performance world, changing the face of music at the time. Her compositions are deeply personal, and we learn more about her as we take the time to study her music. Even though she didn’t compose much, we can be grateful for the music she did leave behind.
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