Clara Machumann Research Paper

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Part I

Women in the nineteenth century lived in an age described by gender difference. At the beginning of the century, women could not vote, could not sue or be sued, could not testify in court, had limited control over personal property after marriage, were rarely granted legal custody of their children in cases of divorce, and were unaccepted from institutions of higher education. Women were expected to stay obedient to their fathers and husbands. Their career choices were also extremely limited. Middle and upper-class women generally remained home, caring for their children and running the household. Lower-class women did work outside of the home, but usually as poorly-paid local servants or laborers in factories and mills. Women in

As singing and pianist opportunities began growing, there were only a few women who received professional training. Clara Schumann is one of the lucky few women who was able to part from the others and make a path of her own preforming and composing music. Schumann was born into a musical family in 1819; her father was a first rate piano teacher and was able to see her talents early on in life. When Schumann was five, her parents divorced and she and her four brothers were legally required to stay with their

Clara was pregnant and delivered eight children while still performing, composing, and teaching piano. At the same time, Clara supported Robert and his career. Robert encouraged his wife to compose and they arranged many of his instrumental works for piano and she performed them when she toured. Robert grew mentally ill until he was placed in a sanitarium for two and a half years until he died. Clara kept moving forward with her composing and preforming and even wrote in honor of her late husband and friend. Schumann’s life was anything but typical for a woman of the nineteenth century. She had many advantages over other women and held that advantage for her whole life as she performed, composed and taught until she died in