The metamorphosis of the pianist, German born composer and friend of Felix Mendelssohn and Johannes Brahms, both of Hamburg, Clara Schuman’s sweetheart, husband, Robert Schuman, variations of a theme playing out.
II
But in his brain neurons and musical soul, the German bornpianist, composer and writer, went ballistic.…being fished out of the Rhine on his attempt at ending his “burned out” career.
Passing away two years later at the sanitarium asylum where he was being treated akin to Thomas Mann’s reminenses in his “Magic Mountain”
”When he awoke from his sleep, his dreamy imagination put him into a cathartic post awakening. His forehead damp with sweat,” said Clara, her own virtuoso into worldly big time feminine majesty tours and magnetism, if not Teutonictwentyish sexuality..
III
Sins of old age is a misnomer in this instance. Clara’s father was steadfast. “Clara my baby.., you fool yourself. Robert may be a good humor man and piano virtuoso and a transcendent composer. But to be your kindred soul in wedlock, I forbid it.”
Her father seemed to savor a narrow minded state of mind. Having one artist in the family, but to invite another prodigythru a marital alliance?
A friendship is a temporary utility. A marriage? Sharing space? “Impossiblee”. I forbid it..”
IV
Little did he nor Clara know. Had she read “the Razor’s Edge” the artist becoming a taxi driver in Chicago.
”Of Human Bondage” the protagonist being and becoming a medical student intern resident.….but Clara was not listening.Her father could go on for days,
weeks, months, years …”From here to Eternity”
Spelling out the case that Meister Schuman , his own brilliant student on the keyboard, was a penniless genus.
V
Robert by his given name, wasn’t a match for my Clara. Where is a match for Clara?
Clara’s refinement?. Clara’s sensibility? No, never. “Nunca” for Spanish speaking readers.
Isn’t one keyboard genii enough? Two?. Impossible! dreamer Robert Schuman! Dumbkompf”!
VI
But in the contradictions of existence, Clara Schuman’s papafinally acknowledged Clara’s devotion to her twin soul, husbandRobert Schuman, his former student, son in law become father of eight, four surviving.
“I want to see my grandchildren. What can I say?”, he asked himself in a self pitying moment ”I got to be true to myself and my strong willed daughter, Clara.
Don’t I ?”
