Age

Life Events

1810

0

Born 8th June, 1810, Zwickau, Eastern Germany.

1818

8

Receives first musical education from local organist.

1819

9

First attempts at composition. Hears Moscheles in Carlsbad.

1821

11

Plays piano well, and tries music found in his father's shop.

1822

12

Gives piano recital at the Lyceum.

1824

14

Accomplished pianist, more school concerts. Starts to develop a taste for literature with aid of books in father's shop.

1825

15

Weber asked to be his teach, but declines. Progresses with improvisation and composition.Forms literary society with fellow Lyceum pupils.

1826

16

Suicide of sister Emilie (19), death of father (53).

1827

17

Studies Schubert. Develops a literary passion for Jean Paul, and a liking for champagne.

1828

18

Studies law at  Leipzig University. Meets Heine in Munich. Meets Wieck & daughter Clara. Sends early songs to Gottlob Wiesbaden at Brunswick for criticism.

1830

20

Neglects law studies. Returns to Leipzig and studies music & lodges with Wieck.Develops into a virtuoso and composes Abegg Variations Op.1 & Toccata Op.7 (first version). Gets badly in debt.

1831

21

At Leipzig studies music under Dorn. Second part of Papillons Op.2, & Allegro Op.8. First contribution to Allgemeine Musikalische Zeitung.

1832

22

Leaves Dorn and continues studies musical alone. Hand injury prevents further piano studies. Part of symphony in Gmin performed in Zwickau. Paganini Studies Op.3 & Intermezzi Op.4 composed.

1833

23

Symphony in Gmin rewritten & performed in Leipzig. Neue Zeitschrift founded. Impromptus on a Romance of Clara Op.5 written for Wieck. Toccata Op.7 revised. Paganini Caprices Op.10 written. Sonatas Opp. 11 & 22 begun. Death of brother Julius.

1834

24

First edition of Neue Zeitschrift für Musik published. Falls in love with Ernestine von Fricken. Invents "Davidsbündler". Begins Etudes Op.13 & Carnaval Op.9. Death of close friend Schunke.

1835

25

Engagement to Ernestine broken. Clara & Robert together throughout summer. Carnaval Op.9 finished. Meets Chopin & Mendelssohn. Sonata F#min Op.11 finished in Sept. Sonata Gmin Op.22 finished (not with present finale). Concert sans Orch Op.14 composed.

1836

26

Mother dies. Wieck suspects romance, sends Clara to Dresden, then recalls her to Leipzig. Friendship with Sterndale-Bennett. Phantasie Op.17 begun.

1837

27

Engagement to Clara. Etude Symphoniques Op.13 published. Davidsbündlertanze Op.6 & Phantasiestücke Op.12 composed.

1838

28

Vienna, discovers Schubert's 9th. Kinderszenen Op.15 & Kreisleriana Op.16 composed. Phantasie Op.17 finished. New finale to Gmin sonata Op.22 written. Arabesque Op.18 & Novelletten Op.21 composed.

1839

29

Returns to Leipzig after deciding not to settle in Vienna. Legal action against Wieck. Composed Blumenstück Op.19, Humoreske Op.20, Nachtstücke Op.23. Faschungsschwank Op.26, Drei Romances Op. 20. Wieck disowns Clara.

1840

30

Myrthen Cycle composed in February. Meets Liszt in Dresden. Wieck's slander. Honorary doctorate. Marries Clara 12 Sep. Song cycles Opp.24, 27, 29-31, 33, 35,36, 39, 40, 42, 45, 48, 49, 53 composed.

1841

31

1st symphony Bb Op.38 finished & performed under Mendelssohn. Overture Scherzo & Finale for Orch.Op.52. First movement of Piano Concerto composed. Second symphony Dmin (became 4th) begun. Decided to compose Paradise & Peri. 1st child born.

1842

32

Studies Haydn & Mozart quartets. Writes 3 quartets Op.41. Overworked, visits Bohemia. Piano Quintet Op.44 finished. Meets Wagner. Piano Quartet Op.47 & Phantasiestücke for violin, cello & piano Op.88 composed. Lieder & Gesänge Op.51.

1843

33

Crisis of mental exhaustion. Stops composing for a while. Meets Berlioz in Leipzig. Then composes Andante & Var.for two pianos, two cellos & horn Op.46. Paradise und die Peri Op.50 written & performed. Birth of 2nd child.

1844

34

Clara's concert tour of Russia. Editorship of NZfM given up in June. Breakdown verging on insanity in August. Visits Harz Mountains in Sept. Moves to Dresden in December.

1845

35

Finishes Piano Concerto Op.54. Begins symphony no.2 Op.61. Studien & Skizzen for pedal piano composed Op.56/58.

1846

36

Clara performs Piano Concerto at Leipzig. 2nd symphony finished. Songs on poems by Burns Op.55 and 4 Partsongs Op.59.

1847

37

Nerves worsen, more retired & taciturn. Visits Zwickau festival held in his honour. Opera Genoveva Op.81 begun.
Piano Trios Opp.63 & 80.

1848

38

Opera Genoveva Op.81 finished. Manfred Op.115 begun. Gives up conducting of Leidertafel. Bilder aus Osten for piano duet Op.66, Album für die Jugend Op.68, Rückert's Adventlied Op.71.

1849

39

Health improves, more than 20 works composed. Takes refuge from revolution when Dresden is besieged.Offered conductorship in Düsseldorf. Waldszenen Op.82. Manfred Op.115. Works on scenes from Faust.

1850

40

Concert tours with Clara to Leipzig, Bremen, Hamburg. Genoveva produced in Leipzig. Moves to Düsseldorf 1st Sep to take up duties as conductor. Starts 3rd symphony after visit to Cologne. Scenes from Faust completed. Cello Concerto Op.129.

1851

41

Problems with orch. & chor. & conducting due mental state. Overture Braut von Messina Op.100. Symphony no 4. Piano trio no.3 Op.110. Violin sonatas Op.105, 121. Julius Caesar Op.128. Hermann & Dorothea Op.136. Fantasiestücke Op.111. Rose Pilgerfahrt.

1852

42

Conducts Manfred overture in Leipzig. Asked to resign, and gives up conducting as dissatisfaction with his abilities grows. Mass Op.147, Requiem Op.148, Bunte Blätter Op.99. Des Sängers Fluch. Songs Opp.107, 135, 142.

1853

43

4th Symphony performed in Düsseldorf. Suffers from delusions, speech problems, melancholy. Brahms & Joachim visit. Committee asks him to give up conducting. Concert tour with Clara in Holland. Intro & Allegro for Piano & Orch. Op.134. Overture on Rheinweinlied.

1854

44

Visit to Hannover where Joachim conducts 4th Symphony & plays Phantasie for Violin & Orch. Op.131. Hears "angels' theme. Asks to be taken to an asylum. Throws himself in the river Rhine. Enters asylum in Endenich on 4th March. Initially some hopes of recovery.

1855

45

Doctors at first hold out some hope, then abandon all hope of recovery.

1856

46

Dies 29th July in the asylum at Endenich, Bonn, Germany.