Robert Schumann (8 June 1810 – 29 July 1856) was a German composer, pianist, and influential music critic. He was born in Zwickau and died in a sanatorium in Bonn after a long time with mental health problems. Wikipedia has a detailed account of his life in German and English.

If you’d rather read some easier German text, check out these websites. Please note, I said ‘easier’ not ‘easy’. The following sites are designed for German primary and secondary school children with the first site being the easiest.

• Robert Schumann
• Robert Schumann – Komponist der Romantik
• Musikalischer Träumer und Tastenfantast

Of course, you could just sit down and enjoy some of his music.

Here is ‘Träumerei’

And here is a longer video with 16 songs, all of them love poems by Heinrich Heine. While listening you can read the sheet music and lyrics

Do you have a favourite?