She continued to tour and perform his compositionsВ around Europe while raising their sixВ children. Clara Wiecke Schumann spent the better part of her long and fruitful life performing and publishing the works of her husband. LiteratureвЂ™s most gut-wrenching love stories would suggest that she ought to have died with him, but what happened is so much better than what Nicholas Sparks, Jane Austen, or even Shakespeare might have written. Two days later, he dies at the age of 46. He says nothing, but seems to recognize her. Clara is not allowed to visit him until July of 1856. In 1854, he throws himself into the Rhine River, but is fished out. Over the next decade, his symptoms escalate so drastically that he tells Clara he is afraid he might hurt her. He develops several paranoias and complains that he canвЂ™t stop hearing the note A5. In the mid-1840вЂ™s, he begins to show early signs of mental illness. Of course, there are accounts of RobertвЂ™s jealousy over ClaraвЂ™s talentвЂ¦ Robert composes, Clara performs, they have children, and are deeply in love. Eventually, love wins out and they are married. Robert often waits for hours just to see her for a few, precious minutes following her performances.

The young lovers exchange letters and meet in secret. Lucky for us, Clara doesnвЂ™t feel that way. Friedrich says no, and why shouldnвЂ™t he? In his mind, Schumann is little more than a вЂњpenniless composer.вЂќ In spite of this opposition, their romance blossoms, and in 1837, Robert approaches ClaraвЂ™s father with marriage on his mind. The two musicians declare their love for each other, but Friederich Wieck forbids them to be together. Clara is a young and highly regarded concert pianist. Skipping ahead to 1835 (because IвЂ™m anxious to get to the good part!), Schumann takes notice of WieckвЂ™s daughter, Clara. It is widely believed that he took drastic measures in an attempt to strengthen his fingers and technique, only to cripple his right hand in the process, thus ending his hopes of a concert career. Schumann works tirelessly, determined to become not only an accomplished pianist, but a renowned composer as well. He is taught by a man named Friederich Wieck. The year is 1830, and a young pianist by the name of Robert Schumann has recently abandoned his study of the law in order to devote himself to music.

However, there is one love story so hauntingly beautiful itвЂ™s made me bawl with the best of them. IвЂ™ll take a cup of coffee and an old fashioned murder mystery over a pint of ice cream and a rom-com any day. And, like a true middle school weirdo, I spent a good portion of the eighth grade wondering what might have become of RomeoвЂ™s Rosaline.

On top of that, I fell asleep about two-thirds of the way into Titanic. IвЂ™m a little ashamed to say I didnвЂ™t shed a single tear when I saw The Notebook. вЂњYou write to become immortal, or because the piano happens to be open, or youвЂ™ve looked into a pair of beautiful eyes.вЂќ вЂ“ Robert Schumann

Robert schumann compositions