Robert Schumann

Schumann studied Law and at the same time attended piano lessons. He ignored all musical theory because in his mind the romantic music had only to be inspired by fantasy. Publishing the "Neue Zeitschrift fuer Musik" he supported young composers of his time like Frédéric Chopin or Johannes Brahms. His own compositions where accepted when his wife 'Clara Wieck' - a famous piano player - played them during her concerts. Schumann suffered from mental depressions which became more serious with his age leading into schizophrenia. He died in an mental asylum near Bonn in 1856.