On this day

[ruudp]

On this day the 29th of July 1856 Robert schumann dies in a Clinic in Endenich in which \he was hospitalized after a failed suicide attempt in 1853..He was looked after by his wife Clara and his friend the then still young composer Johannes Brahms.
A pity that a man of such stature and greatness died in such demeaniating ways.

[Joy]

Ruud, you fox! You beat me to the post by one minute as it were and it seems you have answered my questions as well! How did he try to commit suicide?

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'Truth and beauty joined'

[This message has been edited by Joy (edited 07-29-2004).]

[This message has been edited by Joy (edited 07-29-2004).]

[Peter]

He threw himself into the River Rhine - incidentally he wasn't looked after by Clara or Brahms - indeed after his commital to a sanotarium (not an asylum as is commonly believed) at Endenich near Bonn, she saw him only once or twice in the remaining 3 years of his life as the doctors considered it would be harmful for his recovery. Of course he never did recover and he starved himself to death, Clara saw him shortly before his death.

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'Man know thyself'

[ruudp]

Originally posted by Joy:
Ruud, you fox! You beat me to the post by one minute as it were and it seems you have answered my questions as well! How did he try to commit suicide?

As far as his mental illnesses go All I know is that mental instability were quite common in the schumann family, his sister commited suicide as robert was 16 an event which shocked him deeply.His "madness" was also due to the succes his wife had as a pianist..wherever they went Clara would come first a condition which led him feeling more and more abundant.Also in order too "expand" his pianotechnique he developed a little machine which stretched ALL the muscles in his fingers..He slept with this device for one night *god knows if he actually did sleep for the pain must have been excrutiating* and the next day his hand was shattered so too say..he couldn't play the piano ever again on the level which he could before the experiment..This didn't exactly help his self-esteem either...

Regards,
Ruud

[Tony John Hearne]

A sad story I have listened to the piano and cello concerti for many years and can only mourn the anniversary of the sad passing of this wonderful composer

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Love from London

[Joy]

Thanks for all the info Peter and Ruud. A sad story indeed and so young. I didn't know all the details surrounding his death, one of the saddest of composers stories I daresay.

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'Truth and beauty joined'

[ruudp]

Originally posted by Joy:
Thanks for all the info Peter and Ruud. A sad story indeed and so young. I didn't know all the details surrounding his death, one of the saddest of composers stories I daresay.

Well...
Tjaikovsky is rumoured too be FORCED too drink the glass of water during the cholera epidimic thus commiting suicide because he seduced the son of a noblemen..he was gay shouldn't you know..AND mussorgsky literaly DRANK himself to death

[Joy]

Originally posted by ruudp:

Well...
Tjaikovsky is rumoured too be FORCED too drink the glass of water during the cholera epidimic thus commiting suicide because he seduced the son of a noblemen..he was gay shouldn't you know..AND mussorgsky literaly DRANK himself to death

Oh, I'm fully aware of other composers with sad stories. Many of them suffered a similiar fate (as do many other people too)when it came to difficult ends I'm afraid.

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'Truth and beauty joined'

[This message has been edited by Joy (edited 07-31-2004).]

[Sorrano]

Indeed a sad ending for someone who contributed so much to the music of the 19th Century. If I am not mistaken he founded one of the more scholarly music journals that aided in the early careers of many of the prominent composers and musicians of that century. I don't recall the name of the journal (and if I could I couldn't spell it anyway--at least the German name) but I believe it still thrives today.

[Peter]

Originally posted by Sorrano:
Indeed a sad ending for someone who contributed so much to the music of the 19th Century. If I am not mistaken he founded one of the more scholarly music journals that aided in the early careers of many of the prominent composers and musicians of that century. I don't recall the name of the journal (and if I could I couldn't spell it anyway--at least the German name) but I believe it still thrives today.

Yes it is the Neue Zeitschrift which he edited from 1834-44 and is now published in over 40 countries.

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'Man know thyself'

[Sorrano]

Originally posted by Peter:
Yes it is the Neue Zeitschrift which he edited from 1834-44 and is now published in over 40 countries.

Thanks! I've used this on occasion to do essay reports for school but that's been awhile. It is a tempting thought to look up subscription rates.