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Clara Schumann was born in Leipzig, Germany in 1819. A child prodigy, she made her debut in her birth city at age eleven at Gewandhaus. After this stunning debut as a great piano virtuosos, she undertook a concert tour throughout much of Europe. During this tour she made many friends and acquaintances including Chopin, Liszt, Mendelssohn, and Berlioz. Throughout these tours and travels she ventured to Austria. It was here that the Emperor of Austria gave her the title “Royal and Imperial Chamber Virtuosa” and it was the first time that a Protestant, a teenager, or a woman had been given any official title. (Wright pg. 284) Throughout time she seemed to earn the title of Europe’s “Queen of the Piano” also. In 1840 she married Robert Schumann. This seemed to put almost a standstill on her career, even though she was much better known than her husband. She had decided that her career was less important than taking on the roles of a wife and a mother of eight, but her time would come again. And come again it did. In 1854 Robert Schumann was institutionalized compelling Clara to once again pursuit the concert career she once had due to the families’ economical needs. Clara played numerous concerts after this in England and Russia, and many other places as well. When Robert died, Clara dedicated herself to interpreting and sharing his works. She continued to play until she was seventy years old. It was obvious that although Clara was not as recognized as her husband and other composers, she had accomplished things that no other pianist had accomplished before her, and even more importantly perhaps, what no other woman had accomplished before ever.
Even though Clara was known as an excellent piano virtuosa, she also was a very gifted composer. One of her most famous works was her Romance for Piano and Violin, Opus 22, No. 3, of 1853. Her pieces seemed to create a rich chromatic texture by letting the pianist do most of the work, even if...