Arts & Entertainment :: Books & Music

Mental Illness a Long-time Struggle for Schumann

22 December 2011
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Schumann and bipolar disorder can be thought of at the same time, for the famous classical composer was known to fight with mental illness throughout his life.  The same fate befell at least one of his children. Signs of Schumann’s battle with mental illness were evident from an early age, and concluded with his suicide, while in an asylum, at age 46. In the interim, he conducted a prolific life as a classical composer, and music critic and had eight children with his wife Clara, also a Classical composer and pianists. Speculation about the effect of his mental illness on his work has gone on since he was alive, but we may never know the full story of that influence on his remarkable career.

The Dual Life of Robert Schumann

21 November 2011
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Robert Schuman’s life ran on two tracks, one successful the other troubled and often the tracks overlapped. The Robert Schumann of Classical music fame is best known for his influence on the Romantic era of classical music. The Robert Schumann mental illness sufferer was also known of at the time, but was much less discussed. His life was riddled with examples of his struggle with mental illness, including a self-inflicted injury to his hand severe enough to end his career as a pianist. And he struggled throughout his brief life with the disease, while continuing to compose and race a family of eight children with his wife Clara, herself a famous composer and pianist. Schumann died at age 46 from suicide while in an asylum.

Robert Schumann’s Story Has Familiar Elements

23 September 2011
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Robert Schumann was born in the early years of the 19th century and died while middle aged. In the meantime, the public came to know his as Robert Schumann music critic and Robert Schumann composer. He is credited with being one of the most influential composers in the Romantic era of Classical music history. But his genius came at a price of mental instability. His early hopes to follow his passion and considerable talent for piano were dashed after he was rendered unable by a self-inflicted wound to his hand. And the final two years of his life were spent in an asylum, which was his request. In the end, he took his own life, leaving behind a considerable body of important musical work and criticism.

Cash’s Life, Tribulations Documented in His Music

12 August 2011
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Johnny Cash was born J.R. Cash in 1932, because his parent could agree on the initials but not a name. Cash had to make his own name, both literally and figuratively as a country music star. He was taught to play guitar by his mother as a youngster. His music, which was mostly country and gospel, and much of it written by him, reflected what was frequently a high level of tumult. He spent time in prison, had a rocky marriage to June Carter and was star in the country music circles. He also had off and on battles with alcohol and drug abuse. He was also haunted by the memory of the tragic death of his older brother while the boys were still young.More of this article at:  johnny cash music.

Learn To Play The Guitar By Yourself

6 May 2011
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People are always talking about how they taught themselves to do something without the help of a teacher.  Until recently I never agreed with this statement, but with hard work and dedication, it can be done.  I have always wanted to Learn To Play The Guitar, but could never find a class that was for beginners.  To my surprise there are sites on the Internet that can help you through this process, which works for me because now I can do it whenever I please.  I am not very good, but I know with practice, I can only get better.

Baby Grand Not Just a Smaller Version of a Concert Grand

5 May 2011
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Though a baby grand piano looks very similar to concert grand piano, the quality of sound you’d expect out of a baby grand will be noticeably different than its concert counterpart. And there are good reasons for this. Baby grands, as their names suggests, are smaller, and so their strings are shorter and stiffer. This produces a sound quality that, though good, is not as refined as the concert piano sound.These differences will not typically be detectable by those who are just beginning to learn piano, and even by many who have played for years, and for this reason, they are often very suitable beginner pianos.

Franco’s Death and the Tribulations of His TP OK Jazz

25 February 2011
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The death of Franco was mourned greatly throughout Congo and most of Africa. While the band he had founded remained strong and functional for a while, within a short time, it became evident that the leadership skills that Franco possessed were now absent and soon the great band was in huge trouble.

Music articles tell us that disintegration started when one of the leading musicians in the band, Madilu System, released a solo album which was a huge success. Madilu then quit TP OK Jazz to go solo. In addition, interferences from Franco’s relatives started affecting the band after the family started making financial demands on the band.

Getting Baby to Relax with Music

8 December 2010
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White noise, in the form of a fan (not directed right at the baby), or from sound machines that simulate the sound of an ocean or rain can be restful as well, and can block out noise from the home. You don’t need to create an artificially silent environment for the baby, however, since that can make it harder for them to get to sleep when the home’s rhythms and noises get back to normal. This is a great time for you to explore classical music as well, if it’s not already part of your life. And per most music articles the same music that’s helping your baby get to sleep can help soothe your own nerves and provide a wonderful time of bonding and restfulness for you and your baby together.

The Importance of Learning Music Theory

3 April 2010
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For some people, learning music theory would be considered a waste of time as they argue that music, the universal language, simply needs to be experienced. Such people further argue that learning music theory could actually inhibit creativity which is essential in developing music.While these arguments are true to some extent, learning music theory is important for the growth of the musician. Learning music theory enables the musician to communicate more effectively with others and also aids in teaching others about music. If music is the universal language, music theory is the vocabulary.

Schumann Robert and Clara, His Wife

5 November 2009

The great compositions by the German Schumann Robert who lived in the Romantic period, are almost common knowledge. A person who deserves equal and probably greater recognition is Schumann’s wife, Clara.Apart from keeping her husband’s music alive through popularizing it in performance, Clara was a devoted wife who had to deal with her husband’s jealousy when she started to attract mass attention. In fact it is Clara’s determination that made it possible for Schumann Robert to marry her since Clara’s father was from the beginning opposed to their union. In her husband’s rough times, Clara continued to treat him respectfully.