From the tortured soul of Robert Schumann came the music that practically launched the Romantic Era. A firm believer in music's ability to capture and express feelings, thoughts, and emotions, Schumann poured his heart into every note he composed.

The very definition of a Romantic, Schumann created a majority of his piano compositions for his beloved wife, the renowned pianist Clara Schumann. Another of his most famous pieces, Album for the Young, was composed in honor of the couple's three (a number that soon swelled to seven) children.

In an era that included...