A Method to His Madness: A Poetic Exploration of Works by Robert Schumann and Romanticism

Abstract

A cursory examination of the music of German Romantic composer Robert Schumann reveals a bewildering and borderline chaotic array of characters, contrasting fragments, irregular rhythms, and unexpected harmony changes. However, a closer look at Schumann’s music shows that his pieces were carefully composed with coherent and deliberate strategies derived from German Romantic aesthetics to create an outward façade of chaos and randomness that disrupts the unity of the musical work. His manipulation of the concept of masquerade, his use of musical alter egos, the way he organized fragments into musical forms, as well as a broader examination of these concepts in the context of the Romantic era reveal deeper connections between Schumann’s music and Romanticism, in particular with the concept of Romantic irony. Far from chaotic, Schumann’s work is firmly motivated by German Romantic principles and oftentimes bridges the gap between Romantic literature and music.