Between them, there is only one soul

The European music scene unanimously agreed that "the songs of the outstanding Romantic musician Schumann inherited the tradition of Schubert, but even surpassed Schubert in the depth of artistic expression." Behind Schumann is Clara, a German pianist who showed extraordinary musical talent at a young age and played with elegance and renown in Europe. The talented Clara not only achieved great musical achievements, but also made Schumann's spiritual flower bloom in love with the feelings of the Virgin.

Like the vast majority of German boys, Schumann began learning piano at an early age. By the age of 7, Schumann was able to write small songs. Because of the early death of his father, his mother's desire to train Schumann to become a pianist was frustrated. After his wishes were disappointed, Schumann reluctantly entered the University of Leipzig to study law. In 1828, the 18-year-old Schumann, an 18-year-old university student, met the famous music educator Friedrich Vic and his daughter Clara, who was only 9 years old at the time, at a musical event in Leipzig. Clara's outstanding playing skills are the result of a rigorous, high-level family tradition.

In order to get a good musical education, after several twists and turns, Schumann finally had the privilege of being employed by Friedrich Vic. As Vic's inner disciple, Schumann, of course, lived in Vic's house during his piano studies. It is because he lives in Vic's home that he and Clara have a long love affair.

Schumann and Clara often talk about music together and play four hands together. Sometimes, I also go on an outing. Most of Schumann's new works have Clara first auditioned, and every new view of Schumann's art will be discussed with Clara.

Schumann, who suspended his law studies, was a superb pianist by the age of 20. In order to make the fingers more comfortable, Schumann invented a method of training the strength of the middle finger with a device made of hammers and sleds. It backfired! Unconventional training methods lead to unconventional results: the physiological tissue of Schumann's right finger is permanently damaged – most likely Schumann, who became a piano master, is in pain.

Schumann did not succumb to fate, and with Clara's encouragement, Schumann, who regarded music as a life, began to compose music and criticize music. In response to the narrow, self-contained conservative ideas and vulgar tendencies of German art at the time, and with Clara's expectations of him, Schumann founded the magazine New Music in 1834.

Schumann fantasized about Clara becoming his wife when she became an adult; the mature Clara was fascinated by the "big brother" - in the future, non-Schumann would not marry. In 1839, after Clara had come of age, Schumann expressed his love affair with Clara to Vic. Vic turned down the poor Schumann. After several hardships, Schumann and Clara held a simple wedding ceremony on September 12, 1840, in a village church near Leipzig. Their union was praised by almost all the artists in Germany at the time, and the musician Liszt said: "There is no greater happiness than this happiness – a creative man marrying a skilled man." ”

In the year after his marriage, Schumann, who was bathed in love, was full of creativity and composed 138 songs. Among them, there are "Fantasia" that celebrates love, freedom and dreams, and has been praised for more than a hundred years. European music circles refer to the period 1840-1841 as the "Year of Schumann".

Schumann is so grateful to Clara for his inspiration! Clara said to Schumann: "People will surely find that between the two of us, there is only one soul, you are my soul, you are my everything." Clara not only stimulated Schumann's creative passion, but also urged Schumann to broaden his horizons to create a symphony; Clara, with his outstanding performance talent, regarded the dissemination of Schumann's musical ideals and the dissemination of Schumann's piano works as the most noble duty of his life.

It can be said that without Clara, there would be no Schumann.

Schumann experienced a turbulent life as a teenager, and because of his family inheritance, he was always plagued by mental depression. In the summer of 1844, Schumann developed unfounded fear and madness. Clara and Schumann's poetic and happy life has since been overshadowed.

According to the doctor's advice, Clara decided to change the environment for Schumann to recuperate, and the family moved to Dresden. Clara serves on her side, teaches her son, and at the same time writes for New Music magazine and earns money for playing. In a secluded environment, Schumann gradually regained his health, and his creativity once again blossomed.

In February 1854, Schumann's old illness recurred, and inexplicable hallucinations made him restless all the time. This time, Schumann almost lost his mind. One morning in February, Schumann quietly walked to the Rhine Bridge and jumped off the rapids. Fortunately, Schumann attempted suicide and was rescued and sent to a mental hospital. At this time, Clara was pregnant with her and Schumann's seventh child.

Schumann, who was half-awake in a mental hospital, from time to time kissed the portrait of Clara held in his hands. In July 1856, at the age of 46, Schumann vomited the last breath of his life in Clara's arms.

After Schumann's death, the grief-stricken Clara, with seven young children, compiled and published Schumann's collection with the help of Schumann and her student Brahms. (Ding Xuguang)