ROBERT SCHUMANN

June 8, 1810 – July 29, 1856

1813
At three, he is given to a neighbor lady.
At five, he returns to his parents.
At six-and-a-half, he starts school.
He takes his first piano lesson.
At twelve, he composes the 150th Psalm.
He is sixteen when his father dies.
1828
He begins his university studies in law and takes piano lessons with her father.
1830
He is 20 when he publishes his Op. 1.
He now wishes to become a musician and moves into the Wieck household as his piano student. At 21, he contracts a sexually transmitted disease.
At 22, his right middle finger stiffens due to incorrect practicing. The dream of a career as a solo pianist fades away.
Depression, suicidal thoughts
He answers with his Impromptus Op. 5 on her theme.
He composes the Carnaval Op. 9

At 24, engagement with Ernestine von Fricken,
Founding of the Neue Zeitschrift für Musik (New Journal of Music)
1835
The first kiss in November
Sonata in F-sharp minor Op. 11. He dedicates them to her.
He breaks with Ernestine von Fricken.
He is 26 when his mother dies.
September 13, 1837
Kinderszenen Op. 15, Kreisleriana Op. 16.
His attempt to establish a living in Vienna fails.
Wieck begins a defamation campaign against Robert.
Composition of 138 songs
The court issues them permission to marry.
September 12, 1840 - Wedding
She turns 21, he is 30.
The couple moves into the Inselstraße
1841
Orchestral works
e.g. Symphony no. 1, Op. 38 “Spring Symphony”
1842
Chamber music
e.g. string quartets, Op. 41
Journey together on concert tour to Hamburg. She travels on alone to Denmark
1843
Das Paradies und die Peri, Op. 50
1844
Journey together on concert tour to Russia
Move to Dresden
1845
Fugues, counterpoint studies
e.g. Four fugues for piano, Op. 72
Premiere of his piano concerto, Op. 54 with her as soloist
1846
Symphony No. 2, Op. 61
Journey together on concert tour to Vienna
1847
Bouts of depression
Death of Emil
1848
Opera Genoveva, Op. 81
Album for the Young, Op. 68
1849
Revolution
Choir compositions
e.g. Romances for women’s voices
Appointment as municipal music director
Joint concerts in Leipzig, Hamburg, and Bremen
1851
Bouts of depression
1852
1853
Beginning of a friendship with Johannes Brahms and Joseph Joachim.
Journey together on concert tour to Holland
Robert is forced to step down as music director.
He is 43 years old
February 27, 1854
Robert Schumann attempts to end his life by jumping into the Rhine river.
July 29, 1856
She is thirty-six when Robert Schumann dies at the age of 46 in a sanatorium in Endenich near Bonn.