Schumann, Clara Josephine, née WIECK (1819-96)

German pianist, born in Leipzig, and trained by her father, Friedrich Wieck. A pianist from the age of eight, she was already well known in Europe when, in 1840, she married the composer Robert Schumann over the strenuous objection of her father. She introduced many of Schumann's piano works, including his Piano Concerto (1845). After Schumann's death, she became one of the great pianists of the time, touring almost constantly to support her family. She did much to promote the music of her lifelong friend Johannes Brahms. She edited the complete works of Schumann and from 1872 to 1892 taught at the Hoch Conservatorium in Frankfurt.