During the period of time in which the song cycle was written, Schumann was trying to marry Clara Wieck, the daughter of his teacher. However, Clara's father was attempting to assassinate Schumann's character in order to stop him from marrying Clara.
Much of the music from this period in Schumann's life is influenced on the unresolved love between the two and the turmoil of this situation. When they did marry in 1840, Schumann began to focus more on lieder than instrumental music, and 1840 is known as his "Liederjahr," or "year of songs". Most are romantic in theme, and this particular song cycle follows a woman's story from courtship to marriage to her husband's death.
Schumann in 1840
When this specific song cycle was written, Clara and Robert were on their way to being married. The courts had given them permission to marry, but Robert Schumann was still distressed because the court was giving Clara's father ten days to object to the marriage. (Duncan and Staines 461) It was during this specific timeframe that Schumann wrote the songs, and his fraught emotions show greatly in the music. Often considered some of the most romantic music of the Romantic era, Schumann's works are always brimming with emotions, and this piece is no exception.
Adelbert Chamisso's Original Poetry as a Basis
The literal translation of the "Frauenliebe und leben" from the German is "A woman's life and love." The text from the song cycle was taken from a collection of poetry of the same name by Adelbert von Chamisso. Like much literature in Romanticism, expressive feelings are the backbone of each poem. As the focus of the poetry cycle is a love story, each poem expresses the woman's feelings toward each event in the relationship. However, it is solely from her viewpoint, and her lover/husband is never introduced to the reader, beyond what we learn from her.
Poetry to Songs
Schumann took these poems and turned them into a song cycle. He was not the only composer to do so, but his cycle is certainly the most well-known today. Each song details a period in the woman's life and her feelings in that moment. The first song is "Seit ich ihn gesehen" ("Since I Saw Him"), and expresses the woman's thoughts about 'love at first sight.'
Two of the more famous songs are the second - "Er, der Herrlichste von allen" ("He, the Noblest of All") - and the fourth, "Du Ring an meinem Finger" (You Ring Upon My Finger). The latter expresses the woman's joy at receiving a proposal and engagement ring, and the next few songs describe the events of wedding preparation and marriage life. The last song is the dark and tragic "Nun hast du mir den ersten Schmerz getan" ("Now You Have Caused Me Pain for the First Time") and expresses her sadness of the death of her husband.
A Feminist Critique
Despite the depth of feeling in the lieder, it can't help but be seen as somewhat sexist in our society today. While the songs are from the woman's thoughts, they are thoughts from a man's perspective. From the first song to the last, the woman's thoughts never seem to focus on anything other than this specific relationship.
When her husband dies, the song cycle ends, implying that she does not have a life outside of her husband. The line "Ich zieh mich in mein Innres still zurück" means "I withdraw silently into myself" - a believable expression of grief, but an idea that most people would object to today. But even if it can be considered sexist, it is certainly a tragic and deeply moving song cycle.
Sources
Clark, Duncan, and Joe Staines. "Robert Schumann." Classical Music: the Rough Guide. London: Rough Guides, 2001. 454-61. Print.
Further Reading
Musical Expression in Frauenliebe und - Leben, by Amelia Hill
Recmusic.org's Translations of the Song Cycle
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