Robert Schumann (1810-1856) was respected as a writer, a critic, and a musician. His marriage to one of the greatest pianists of the nineteenth century, Clara Wieck, could easily be the basis of a modern love story. While having written some of the greatest masterpieces in all genres, oftentimes his music and influence are underestimated. Frequently misunderstood by his contemporaries, not only did he absorb the influences of previous composers, but his compositions influenced many who came after him, beginning with Johannes Brahms and Pyotr Ilyitch Tchaikovsky. Schumann’s output falls into distinct periods of concentration, including piano music, lieder, and many years devoted to orchestral music. His periods of intense focus likely were caused by a bipolar condition that eventually contributed to his death. After his death Clara and Brahms strove to ensure his legacy, though not always with the best results. This seminar explores his life, music, and writings in unexpected and fascinating ways.
Robert Schumann and the Romantic Century
Group Leader: Bradford Conner & Benjamin Sears
Venue: The Engineering Center
Meets on: Wednesday 3:30 PM
Starting: Oct 8
Sessions: 6
Class Size: 25
Teaching Style: Lecture with questions
Weekly Preparation: None
Bradford Conner and Benjamin Sears have been performing together since 1989 and lecture regularly on the music they perform. Conner and Sears are leading scholars of Irving Berlin, having recorded six CDs of his songs and contributed articles about Berlin and other Great American Songbook songwriters to numerous scholarly publications. Sears, a graduate of Ithaca College and editor of The Irving Berlin Reader, contributed a chapter to the book Adapting the Wizard of Oz: Musical Versions from Baum to MGM and Beyond, and is in the early stages of developing The Fred Astaire Reader. A graduate of West Virginia University, Conner also studied at the University of Salzburg (Austria) and the American College of Salzburg. A “Renaissance individual” with degrees in business, musicology, and foreign language, he has lectured and written on his interests in music and world history. Both opera and history lovers, Conner and Sears have taught numerous courses at Beacon Hill Seminars and are recipients of the Jack Curtin Award.