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Women of Music History, Part I - Clara Wieck Schumann

© Brad Foust

(How many female composers can you name? One...maybe two? If so, then you're probably not alone. Much of music history focuses on male composers and performers, but women have also played a very important role in the development of music. This continuing series will highlight some of those great female composers and performers.)

Clara Wieck Schumann (1819-1896) was an important composer, performer, arranger and editor of music, most notably the music of her husband, Robert, but her path was well established far before she met him.

Born to a middle-class family in Leipzig, Germany, Clara was taught music from an early age by her father, a music teacher. As with past great virtuosos, he promoted her as a concert performer. She gave concerts in Leipzig and began to tour in her early teens. She was widely known throughout Europe as a master performer.

Robert Schumann was actually a student of Clara's father, and at one time, lived in the Wieck family home. The two developed a relationship, much to the dismay of Friedrich Wieck. Clara was denied the right to marry Robert because she had such a promising career, and he was unstable at best. Nevertheless, Robert took legal action to override Friedrich's denial, and Clara married him in 1840, on the day before her 21st birthday.

During this time, she continued to play in public teach and compose, while at the same time devoting herself to her husband and his pursuits. Clara and Robert also had children...eight in all, between the years 1841 and 1854. Things were made even more challenging for her when Robert once again starting to show signs of mental distress. He had suffered breakdowns in the past, but in his later years, they were almost commonplace, so this made Clara responsible for supporting the family.

Robert Schumann was a great composer, but Clara was a better performer, and he probably never truly accepted his secondary role. Clara would often receive more praise and applause when they would tour together. His mental illness escalated to the point where he had to be committed, and he died in an asylum in 1856.

Clara was now left alone with the children, but she was a very resourceful woman, and her extensive touring throughout Europe kept the family financially secure. During this time, she also managed to maintain friendships with some of the most influential composers and performers of the day, such as Mendelssohn and Johannes Brahms, a very close but platonic friend.