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1841 (aged 31)
4–11 & 16 January Zwölf Gedichte
aus „Liebesfrühling“ Op 37 6 1–bn
This cycle is an overspill from the end of the glorious
song year, 1840. Rückert is the poet of choice because
no one else in German literature had hymned his
wife, and the happiness of marriage, with such
inexhaustible devotion. From the huge assembly of
the poet’s Liebesfrühling Schumann chooses nine
poems, three of which (Nos 6, 7 and 12) he conceives
as simple duets. Three further poems are set as solo
songs by Clara (Nos 2, 4 and 11) somewhat in the
Mendelssohn style. She probably selects the poems
for herself (one of which, Liebst du um Schönheit,
was later to be immortalized by Mahler’s setting),
but Schumann probably edits her musical contribution
before publication. Musical collaboration thus
becomes a metaphor for the fruitful happiness of
marriage. In April the already pregnant Clara writes:
‘This love is the most beautiful, and every day we are
more united in heart and soul.’ The cycle will enrich
the already celebrated legend of Robert and Clara as
independently minded young lovers for progressive
times, an inspiration to countless young Germans
who have been similarly separated by parental diktat.
The poems for Nos 7 and 12 Schumann will set as
four-part ensembles in Minnespiel Op 101 in 1849.
23–26 January Robert sketches the Symphony No 1 in
B flat major Op 38 and orchestrates it between 27
January and 20 February.
31 March The first Symphony is given its first
performance in the Leipzig Gewandhaus, conducted
by Mendelssohn. Clara plays a Chopin Piano Concerto
in the same concert.
May–July Having already written the Phantasie in A
minor for piano and orchestra (that will later become
the first movement of the Piano Concerto) Schumann
works on a second Symphony in D minor. He later
sketches a C minor Symphony. Neither work is completed.
1 September Birth of Marie Schumann (1841–1929),
the couple’s first child.
?12 December Ich wandre nicht Op 51/3 6 bo
Despite its title, this is a stray song in every sense,
unless the composer made a fair copy at the end of
1841 of a work already composed in 1840. Eric Sams
argues thus, and links the opening of the song with
the Scherzo of the Klavierstücke (Op 32 No 1, 1839).
A letter written by Robert to Clara on 16 February
1840 links an unnamed song with that very
‘Scherzino’.
1842 (aged 32) March The Schumanns are separated
by a concert tour which Clara undertakes on her own.
The composer Schumann suffers pangs of loneliness
and studies the string quartets of Haydn, Mozart
and Beethoven. This will become a pattern of the
marriage—the composer soon realizes that he has
far less of a public profile than his famous pianoplaying
wife.
June Schumann works on his three string quartets
Op 41. Many of the songs composed in 1840 are
published at this time (Opp 36, 39, 40).
August Schumann accompanies Clara on a concert tour
through Germany.
September–October Composition of the Piano Quintet
in E flat major Op 44 and the Piano Quartet in E flat
major Op 47.
November Despite Clara’s tender devotion (expressed in
the Marriage Diary) and many visits from distinguished
artists (composers and writers) Schumann
suffers from the symptoms of depression.
31