Description
In 1849, Schumann published six "Impromptus" for piano four-hands, titling the work "Pictures from the East." As revealed in the preface to the first edition, Schumann drew inspiration from the "Maqama" - a genre of rhymed Arabic prose - by the medieval poet Hariri, in a translation by Friedrich Rückert. Schumann remained captivated by the protagonist of the Maqama, Abu Said, whom he likened to the German character Till Eulenspiegel, while composing the work. This "foreign character" is reflected in the pieces. Even 150 years later, the "Pictures from the East" retain their charm through Schumann's nuanced exploration of a wide range of sonorities in the four-hand piano format.
