Robert Schumann (1810-1856) and Clara Schumann (1819-1896) Clara Schumann was a well-respected pianist and composer, Robert Schumann a composer, pianist, and music critic. Clara’s father, Frederick Wieck, was also a pianist and was in fact Robert’s teacher, but he opposed the match. At the time, the opposition would have been enough to prevent their marriage, but they sued him and were given permission by a judge to marry anyway. In the first year that they were married, Robert wrote over 130 songs with the vast majority being inspired by his wife and his love for her. Over the course of their marriage, they kept a diary of their life together, both on a personal level and a musical one. Robert had been prevented from becoming a fully realized pianist because of a hand injury, but Clara premiered many of his compositions. Both as individuals and as a couple, they made tremendous contributions to the Romantic era. They had eight children together, and took young artists such as Joseph Joachim and Johannes Brahms under their wing.