He also reads an eighteenth-century musicological treatise which begins to shape his ideas on tonality-this is by Christian Friedrich Daniel Schubart (the poet of Schubert’s Die Forelle) and is entitled Ideen zu einer Ästhetik der Tonkunst.ġ824 (aged 14) The young Schumann begins to make a name for himself as a pianist and conductor of his own small school orchestra. This collection, the first of many such home-made anthologies, is a kind of preparation for the writing of a projected tragedy to be entitled Der Geist. Gathered and assembled by Robert Schumann, writing under the name of Skülander. From this year dates an anthology of verses-his own and others’-entitled Leaves and Flowers from the Golden Meadow. Works by Mozart and Rossini are also heard, and other pieces are studied in piano scores. He broadens his knowledge of opera with Weber’s Freischütz performed in the Zwickau Gewandhaus. A new piano from the Viennese firm of Streicher is purchased for the Schumann household-in his will of 1826 August Schumann leaves this instrument to his youngest son Robert.ġ823 (aged 13) Schumann, writing much later, dates his passion for works of the lyric stage to the years between 18. In order to perform these works he establishes a school orchestra and takes over its direction. With a school friend-Friedrich August Pilzing-he plays a huge amount of music arranged for piano duet: Weber, Hummel, Czerny, symphonies by Haydn and Mozart, and Beethoven’s Eroica arranged for four hands.ġ822 (aged 12) Robert composes his first musical works-small pieces with grand titles: Psalm 150 for solo voices, piano and orchestra, and an Ouvertüre with chorus. He later records that his love of music at this age and his longing to be a pianist were almost in the order of a sickness.ġ821 (aged 11) Robert’s musical life begins to intensify with the establishment of evening performances (‘Abendunterhaltungen’) at the Zwickau Lyzeum-between 18 he appears at these as pianist, poet and speaker. He falls in love with Ida Stölzel, daughter of a Zwickau landlord. It is probably in this year that he visits Dresden for the first time. He begins to compose poetry and writes and produces a small play with school friends.ġ820 (aged 10) Robert enters the Zwickau Lyzeum (later renamed Gymnasium) where he is far ahead of his contemporaries in German studies as well as in Latin and Greek. He falls in love for the first time-with Emilie Lorenz who ten years later will marry his older brother Julius and become his sister-in-law.ġ819 (aged 9) During a visit to Leipzig, Robert hears his first opera ( Die Zauberflöte) and is overcome with enthusiasm. This great pianist becomes his idol and Robert decides to emulate him-he intensifies his piano studies. In August he goes to Karlsbad with his mother, where he encounters for the first time Ignaz Moscheles (1794–1870). This dwelling is razed to the ground in March 1945.ġ818 (aged 8) Robert develops his talent at the piano, particularly as an improviser able to portray the characteristics of friends in musical terms- Chopin in Carnaval is prefigured in these youthful musical games. Owing to the success of the family business it is now possible for August Schumann to buy a house of his own: the family moves into a new dwelling in the Amtgasse, the home of the young Robert for eleven years, where his talents in both literature and music develop side by side. She looks after him for two and a half years before he returns to his parental home in 1816.ġ816 (aged 6) Robert begins his schooling in Zwickau, and receives his first music theory lessons from August Vollert.ġ817 (aged 7) Robert receives his first piano lessons from Johann Gottfried Kuntsch (1775–1855).

This substantial and roomy dwelling doubles as home and business premises, and is rented by the Schumanns between 18.ġ4 June Robert is baptized in the house of his birth since being rebuilt in 1956 this has become the Robert Schumann Museum in Zwickau.ġ813 (aged 3) Robert goes to live with his godmother, Frau Ruppius. 1810 8 June At 9.30 pm Robert, fifth and last child of August Schumann (1773–1826)-author, book dealer and publisher-and his wife Christiane, née Schnabel (1767–1836), is born in Zwickau, Saxony, on the top floor of the house at the corner of the Marktplatz.

Chamber of reflection lyrics traduction