Robert Schumann: A Musical Poet

Romantic writers that influenced Robert


      Jean Paul (1763 - 1825):  Flegeljahre (The Awkward Years)  (1804-05)

      E.T.A. Hoffmann (1776 - 1822)


      Heinrich Heine   (1797 - 1856)


Characters created by Robert

       Florestan

       Eusebius

       Walt & Vult


       Davidsbündler (The League of David) was an imaginary music society creted by Schumann.  It was inspired by literary societies, real and imagined ones, such as the Serapionsbrüder (The Serapion Brethren) of ETA Hoffmann.  The group was created to defend the cause of contemporary music against its detractors.  Its two main members were Florestan and Eusebius, respectively symbolising the extroverted and introspective sides of his personality



          Neue Zeitschrift für Musik  (New Magazine for Music)  Music magazine started by Robert Schumann and Friedrich Wieck in 1834.  It was Schumann's main platform for his critiques.  It is still in existence today.


           In June 1843, Schumann's other commitments made him give up editorship of the magazine, and in 1844 Franz Brendel became owner and editor.  Under his tenure, the most notable piece was Richard Wagner's anti-Jewish article "Das Judenthum in der Musik", published under the pseudonym K. Freigedank ('Freethought') in volume 33, no. 19 (3 September 1850).  Ignaz Moscheles and other teachers at the Leipzig Conservatory were outraged and called for Brendel's resignation from its board.  Wagner's article had insulted the memory of Felix Mendelssohn, the conservatory's founder—but had little further effect at the time.