Mental Illness and Musical Creativity: An Analysis of Robert Schumann
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58445/rars.3631Keywords:
Romantic-era music, Musical Creativity, Mental IllnessAbstract
This paper explores the relationship between mental illness and musical creativity in Romantic-era composers, focusing on Robert Schumann. The Romantic period emphasized emotional expression, individualism, and imagination, providing a framework in which composers often transformed personal struggles into artistic innovation. Schumann’s experiences with depression, bipolarity, and hallucinations influenced his compositional output, evident in works such as Kreisleriana, Davidsbündlertänze, and his Violin Concerto in D minor. Through analysis of these pieces, this study highlights how his psychiatric conditions shaped musical style, emotional depth, and creative process. While debates remain regarding specific diagnoses, evidence suggests that Schumann’s mental health both challenged and enriched his artistry. This research underscores the broader significance of examining the interplay between psychological states and creative expression, offering insights for musicology, psychology, and interdisciplinary approaches to mental wellness.
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