
Robert Schumann
Country of origin:
Germany
Birthday:
June 8, 1810
Date of death:
July 29, 1856
Upcoming Performances
Schumannliebe
Orchestra: Ensemble Q
August 25, 2025 |
Brisbane, QLD (Australien) , QPAC Concert Hall — National Premiere
About Robert Schumann
Robert Schumann, major composer of the High Romantic era.
Life:
Schumann, who was also a highly gifted writer, had his first piano lessons at an early age; in 1828/29 he studied law in Leipzig and Heidelberg, but soon devoted himself entirely to the music. In addition to his piano lessons with Friedrich Wieck (*1785, 1873) and studies of theory, he pursued his own studies on the basis of Bach's "Well-Tempered Clavier" which were later taken up and intensified in the BACH Fugues Op. 60 (1845). A pulled tendon in one of his fingers put an end to his career as a virtuoso pianist. At the same time, he wrote his first compositions, until 1839 almost exclusively for the piano. In 1834 Schumann founded the "Neue Zeitschrift für Musik" in which the invented "Davidsbündler" (most notably Eusebius and Florestan as personifications of two sides of his own personality) fought for a new true and poetic concept of music, for true productive criticism as well as against artistic Philistines and light salon music.
Life:
Schumann, who was also a highly gifted writer, had his first piano lessons at an early age; in 1828/29 he studied law in Leipzig and Heidelberg, but soon devoted himself entirely to the music. In addition to his piano lessons with Friedrich Wieck (*1785, 1873) and studies of theory, he pursued his own studies on the basis of Bach's "Well-Tempered Clavier" which were later taken up and intensified in the BACH Fugues Op. 60 (1845). A pulled tendon in one of his fingers put an end to his career as a virtuoso pianist. At the same time, he wrote his first compositions, until 1839 almost exclusively for the piano. In 1834 Schumann founded the "Neue Zeitschrift für Musik" in which the invented "Davidsbündler" (most notably Eusebius and Florestan as personifications of two sides of his own personality) fought for a new true and poetic concept of music, for true productive criticism as well as against artistic Philistines and light salon music.
In 1840 Schumann married Wieck's daughter Clara against her father's wishes and in the same year composed about 150 songs for voice and pianoforte. In 1841 he wrote, often almost in no time, a number of major chamber music works and in 1842, sometimes similarly quickly and eruptively, two symphonies and other music for the orchestra, including the first movement of the Piano Concerto in A minor Op. 54. In 1843 Schumann came to the newly founded Conservatoire in Leipzig through Mendelssohn Bartholdy, a close friend of his; in 1844 he went to Dresden as choral director. In 1850 he became municipal musical director in Düsseldorf, where Brahms visited him in 1853, but after some time he faced humiliation and intrigues. An emotional disorder (depression, delusion), the first symptoms of which had already appeared at an early age, fully manifested itself in 1854. After a suicide attempt (when he threw himself into the river Rhine) he was committed to an asylum where he remained until his death.
Oeuvre:
In terms of musical history, Schumann's oeuvre is in the middle of German High Romanticism. His poetic and fantastic virtuoso piano oeuvre was created right after Beethoven's and Schubert's deaths, transforming ideas of Jean Paul and of literary Romanticism (e.g. of E.T.A. Hoffmann) into music. He used Beethoven's motivic work for the most differentiated moods and further developed Schubert's bold harmony and songlike melody into a complex pianistic sound. In some works, he expanded the sonata form in an imaginative way, but for the most part avoided it by arranging short character pieces into cycles. The headings of his works prompt associations but are not to be taken in the sense of concrete extra-musical contents.
In Schumann's songs, the piano part stands out independently and characteristically, entirely inspired by the poet's words. Apart from many others, poems by Goethe and especially Heinrich Heine and Joseph von Eichendorff are interpreted adequately here. Schumann's chamber music with piano captivates with the pile of great ideas as well as the constant desire for a dense stylistic form. His string quartets tend toward post-classical intimate lyricism. Schumann's critical analysis of Beethoven's example is most noticeable in his symphonies. Nonetheless, Schumann's four symphonies are prominent examples of the genre, each with characteristic thematic and formal structures. In the fields of opera (»Genoveva«) and oratorio (»Paradise and the Peri«) Schumann created independent works which, unjustly, are performed very rarely. A wealth of forms and of shades of Romantic expressions can be found in his choral music as well.
Until 1842, almost every work by Schumann was brilliant and highly successful. Later, less original, classically Biedermeier-like compositions alternate with highly important ones. Schumann's style and attitude decisively influenced Brahms with regard to history, Hugo Wolf in particular with regard to the lied, and the whole further development in the late 19th century with regard to piano music. His oeuvre marked the beginning of the separation between a rather traditional compositional style (Schumann, Mendelssohn Bartholdy, Brahms) and a progressive style (New German School) some representatives of which (e.g. Liszt), however, were known and greatly valued by Schumann who, with his Romantic complex personality and his awareness of the difficulty to harmonize poetically universal aspiration with his late position in history, represents a new modern type of artist. His writings, testimony to a typically Romantic double talent, are lasting examples of productive music criticism and selfless recognition even of unfamiliar, different creative concepts.
Works:
Piano music: Papillons Op.2 (182932); Davidsbündlertänze Op.6 (1837); Carnaval Op.9 (1834/35); Sonata No. 1 in F sharp minor Op.11 (183335); Fantasy Pieces Op.12 (1837); Symphonic Studies Op.13 (183437); Scenes from Childhood Op.15 (1838); Kreisleriana Op.16 (1838); Sonata No. 2 in G minor Op.22 (183338); Album for the Youth Op.68 (1848).
Orchestral works: 4 symphonies, No. 1 in B flat major Op.38 (1841, »Spring Symphony«), No. 2 in C major (1845/46), No. 3 in E flat major Op.97 (1850, »Rhenish Symphony«), No. 4 in D minor Op.120 (1851, 1st version 1841); overtures, from the music of Lord Byron's dramatic poem »Manfred« Op.115 (1848/49) among others; Piano Concerto in A minor Op.54 (184145); Cello Concerto in A minor Op.129 (1850).
Chamber music: 3 string quartets in A minor, F major, A major Op.41, 13 (1842); Piano Quintet in E flat major Op.44 (1842); Piano Quartet in E flat major Op.47 (1842); 3 piano trios, 3 violin sonatas.
Vocal works: Opera »Genoveva« Op.81 (184749); secular oratorio »Paradise and the Peri« Op.50 (184143); choral music with and without accompaniment; more than 300 songs for voice and pianoforte, including the cycles »Myrthen« Op.25 (1840, various poets), »Liederkreis« Op.39 (1840, Eichendorff); »Frauenliebe und -leben« Op.42 (1840, Adelbert von Chamisso), »Dichterliebe« Op.48 (1840, Heine).
Products
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Composer: Robert SchumannEditor: Ute BaerMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: complete editionSeries: Robert Schumann - New Edition of Complete Works, Vol. 3
Instrumentation: violin and pianoProduct number: RSA 1014Print editionPrint editionIn stock€418.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
aus dem "Album für die Jugend"Composer: Robert SchumannEditor: Walter GötzeSeries: Guitar Archive
Edition Schott
Instrumentation: guitarProduct number: GA 17Product TypeIn stockAs low as €9.99Incl. Tax -
from "Album für die Jugend"Composer: Robert SchumannEditor: Walter GötzeSeries: Guitar Archive
Edition Schott
Instrumentation: 2 guitarsProduct number: GA 18Product TypeIn stockAs low as €9.99Incl. Tax -
Franz Schubert: Waltzes - Robert Schumann: LullabysComposer: Franz Schubert | Robert SchumannEditor: Romain WorschechMedia Type: Sheet musicInstrumentation: guitarProduct number: ME 7685Print editionPrint editionOut of stock€11.99Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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Composer: Robert SchumannMedia Type: Sheet music with Online audio filesEdition: Edition with play-alongInstrumentation: ClarinetProduct number: MMO 3210Print edition + Online audio filesPrint edition + Online audio filesOut of stock€20.99Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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for 2 Violins, Viola and VioloncelloComposer: Robert SchumannEditor: Hans KohlhaseEdition: Set of partsSeries: Edition Schott
Instrumentation: string quartetProduct number: ED 9946-10Product TypeIn stockAs low as €42.99Incl. Tax -
for 2 Violins, Viola and VioloncelloComposer: Robert SchumannEditor: Hans KohlhaseEdition: ScoreSeries: Edition Schott
Instrumentation: string quartetProduct number: ED 9946Product TypeIn stockAs low as €29.99Incl. Tax -
Composer: Robert SchumannArranger: Stephan Korody-KreutzerSeries: Musik for Clarinet
Instrumentation: clarinet and pianoProduct number: ZM29450Product TypeIn stockAs low as €12.99Incl. Tax -
Composer: Robert SchumannArranger: Doris GellerMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Score and partsSeries: Flute
Instrumentation: 3 flutesLanguage: French, German, EnglishProduct number: ZM29860Print editionPrint editionIn stock€17.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
(from "Scenes from Childhood, Op. 15")Composer: Robert SchumannEditor: Monika TwelsiekMedia Type: E-score PDFInstrumentation: pianoProduct number: ED 9044 Q23239E-score PDFE-score PDFIn stock€1.99Incl. Tax
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Thema aus op. 1Composer: Robert SchumannArranger: Hans-Guenter HeumannMedia Type: E-score PDFInstrumentation: pianoProduct number: ED 21333 Q13034E-score PDFE-score PDFIn stock€1.99Incl. Tax
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Composer: Robert SchumannSeries: Schott Archive
Instrumentation: cello and pianoProduct number: ED 11055Product TypeIn stockAs low as €6.99Incl. Tax -
aus 12 Klavierstücke op. 85Composer: Robert SchumannArranger: Hans WolfMedia Type: Sheet musicInstrumentation: double bass and pianoProduct number: CFS 1737Print editionPrint editionIn stock€9.95Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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für kleines OrchesterComposer: Robert SchumannMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: small orchestraHire/performance materialHire/performance material
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Composer: Robert SchumannMedia Type: Sheet musicInstrumentation: oboe and pianoProduct number: CFS 220Print editionPrint editionIn stock€9.95Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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Composer: Robert SchumannMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Set of partsInstrumentation: clarinet and string quartetProduct number: CFS 601Print editionPrint editionOut of stock€11.95Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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Composer: Robert SchumannMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Score and partInstrumentation: clarinet and pianoProduct number: CFS 600Print editionPrint editionIn stock€9.95Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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Composer: Robert SchumannArranger: Louis KlemckeMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Set of partsInstrumentation: 3 instruments (various options for instrumentation)Product number: CFS 4622Print editionPrint editionIn stock€14.95Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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Composer: Robert SchumannArranger: Stephan Korody-KreutzerSeries: Musik for Clarinet
Instrumentation: clarinet in Bb and pianoProduct number: ZM29400Product TypeIn stockAs low as €10.99Incl. Tax -
Composer: Robert SchumannEditor: Ute ScholzEdition: Study scoreSeries: Eulenburg Miniature Scores
Instrumentation: soprano solo, choir and orchestraProduct number: ETP 1710Product TypeIn stockAs low as €11.99Incl. Tax -
Composer: Robert SchumannEditor: Ute BaerMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Score and critical report, complete editionSeries: Robert Schumann - New Edition of Complete Works, Vol. 1, Teilband 2
Language: German, EnglishProduct number: RSA 1032-20Print editionPrint editionIn stock€292.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
Album leaf for pianoComposer: Robert SchumannEditor: Michael BeicheMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: UrtextSeries: Wiener Urtext Edition
Instrumentation: pianoProduct number: UT50271Print editionPrint editionIn stock€8.50Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
Composer: Robert SchumannEditor: André TerebesiSeries: Schott Piano Classics
Instrumentation: pianoProduct number: ED 9010Product TypeIn stockAs low as €8.99Incl. Tax -
UrtextComposer: Robert SchumannEditor: Michael KubeMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: UrtextSeries: Wiener Urtext Edition
Instrumentation: pianoProduct number: UT50252Print editionPrint editionIn stock€14.95Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
Composer: Robert SchumannArranger: Gérard NauwelaersMedia Type: Sheet musicSeries: Edition Schott
Instrumentation: pianoProduct number: SF 8700Print editionPrint editionOut of stock€15.50Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
Walzer - Schlummerlied - ElfeComposer: Robert SchumannArranger: Max PauerSeries: Edition Schott - Single Edition
Instrumentation: PianoProduct number: ED0 723Product TypeIn stockAs low as €3.99Incl. Tax -
Original Version after the Robert Schumann Complete EditionComposer: Robert SchumannEditor: Bernhard R. Appel | Joachim DraheimSeries: Edition Schott
Instrumentation: 2 pianosProduct number: ED 9907Product TypeIn stockAs low as €13.99Incl. Tax -
Composer: Robert SchumannEditor: Max PauerSeries: Edition Schott - Single Edition
Instrumentation: pianoProduct number: ED0 725Product TypeIn stockAs low as €3.99Incl. Tax -
Edited from the first editionsComposer: Robert SchumannEditor: Joachim DraheimMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: UrtextSeries: Wiener Urtext Edition
Instrumentation: pianoProduct number: UT50059Print editionPrint editionIn stock€16.50Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
Product TypeIn stockAs low as €6.99Incl. Tax
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Composer: Robert SchumannEditor: Hans-Guenter HeumannMedia Type: E-score PDFInstrumentation: pianoProduct number: ED 20573 Q29E-score PDFE-score PDFIn stock€2.99Incl. Tax
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from: Scenes from ChildhoodComposer: Robert SchumannEditor: Hans-Guenter HeumannMedia Type: E-score PDFInstrumentation: pianoProduct number: ED 20573 Q28E-score PDFE-score PDFIn stock€1.99Incl. Tax
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Composer: Robert SchumannEditor: Gottfried WoltersEdition: Choral scoreSeries: Möseler Chorreihe, 199
Instrumentation: mixed choir (SATB)Product number: MOS 81199Product TypeIn stockAs low as €2.99Incl. Tax -
Composer: Robert SchumannMedia Type: E-score PDFInstrumentation: voice and pianoLanguage: GermanProduct number: ED 6792 Q53743E-score PDFE-score PDFIn stock€1.99Incl. Tax
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Composer: Robert SchumannArranger: Wolfgang BirtelMedia Type: E-score PDFInstrumentation: violin and pianoProduct number: ED 23524 Q561851E-score PDFE-score PDFIn stock€3.99Incl. Tax
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Composer: Robert SchumannEditor: Bernhard R. Appel | Joachim DraheimSeries: Edition Schott - Single Edition
Instrumentation: piano (4 hands)Product number: ED0 9874Product TypeIn stockAs low as €3.99Incl. Tax -
30 Famous Pieces for PianoComposer: Robert SchumannEditor: Hans-Guenter HeumannSeries: Best of Classics
Instrumentation: pianoProduct number: ED 23770Product TypeIn stockAs low as €12.99Incl. Tax -
Composer: Robert SchumannEditor: Monika TwelsiekSeries: Edition Schott - Single Edition
Instrumentation: piano (4 hands)Product number: ED0 1046Product TypeIn stockAs low as €3.99Incl. Tax -
Composer: Robert SchumannEditor: Monika TwelsiekMedia Type: E-score PDFInstrumentation: piano (4 hands)Product number: ED 21379 Q19702E-score PDFE-score PDFIn stock€2.99Incl. Tax
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Composer: Robert SchumannEditor: Andrés SegoviaMedia Type: E-score PDFSeries: Guitar Archive
Instrumentation: guitarProduct number: GA 138 Q15698E-score PDFE-score PDFIn stock€7.99Incl. Tax -
from: Scenes from ChildhoodComposer: Robert SchumannEditor: Hans-Guenter HeumannMedia Type: E-score PDFInstrumentation: pianoProduct number: ED 20573 Q27E-score PDFE-score PDFIn stock€1.99Incl. Tax
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from: Scenes from ChildhoodComposer: Robert SchumannEditor: Hans-Guenter HeumannMedia Type: E-score PDFInstrumentation: pianoProduct number: ED 20044 Q7673E-score PDFE-score PDFIn stock€1.99Incl. Tax
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Composer: Robert SchumannEditor: Max PauerSeries: Edition Schott - Single Edition
Instrumentation: pianoProduct number: ED0 9188Product TypeIn stockAs low as €6.99Incl. Tax -
Edited from the sources by Michael BeicheComposer: Robert SchumannEditor: Michael BeicheMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: urtext editionSeries: Wiener Urtext Edition
Instrumentation: pianoLanguage: German, EnglishProduct number: UT50206Print editionPrint editionIn stock€14.95Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
für OrchesterComposer: Robert SchumannMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: orchestraHire/performance materialHire/performance material
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(from Scenes from Childhood, Op. 15, No. 12)Composer: Robert SchumannEditor: Monika TwelsiekMedia Type: E-score PDFInstrumentation: pianoProduct number: ED 9043 Q23189E-score PDFE-score PDFIn stock€1.99Incl. Tax
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from: Scenes from Childhood, op. 15Composer: Robert SchumannEditor: Monika TwelsiekMedia Type: E-score PDFInstrumentation: pianoProduct number: ED 9048 Q12353E-score PDFE-score PDFIn stock€1.99Incl. Tax
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Composer: Robert SchumannArranger: Peter MohrsMedia Type: E-score PDFInstrumentation: 2 violins and celloProduct number: ED 22398 Q44908E-score PDFE-score PDFIn stock€2.99Incl. Tax
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for Pianoforte and OrchestraComposer: Robert SchumannEditor: Ute BaerEdition: Study scoreSeries: Eulenburg Miniature Scores
Instrumentation: piano and orchestraProduct number: ETP 1472Product TypeIn stockAs low as €11.99Incl. Tax -
for violin and orchestraComposer: Robert SchumannEditor: Reinhard KappMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: violin and orchestraHire/performance materialHire/performance material
Performances
Schumannliebe
Orchestra: Ensemble Q
August 25, 2025 |
Brisbane, QLD (Australien) , QPAC Concert Hall — National Premiere