Description
Written in 1830 and revised for publication in 1833, this early Schumann work is renowned as one of the most technically demanding pieces in the piano repertoire. Though it lasts only about seven minutes, it sustains relentless fast figuration and wide leaps almost without pause. It reimagines the Baroque toccata form through a distinctly Romantic, almost mechanical drive.
Keyboard works with an improvisatory character, alternating between virtuosic passages and contrapuntal sections.
About the Composer
Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
Robert Schumann was a leading German Romantic composer born in Zwickau. His poetic style reflects his deep literary sensibility, and his wife Clara Schumann was herself a renowned pianist and composer. His pedagogical piano collection Album for the Young remains beloved for its simple yet evocative miniatures for children and families. This site includes 63 of his works, including several pieces from that collection.
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