Arabeske (Schumann)

His relationship with Clara Wieck had reached a point of no return, as her father vehemently opposed anything that might interfere with his daughter's career as a pianist and strongly disapproved of Schumann as a possible son-in-law.

This has been proposed as an explanation for this work, which alternates passages of wistful longing with more robust, declamatory episodes.

Nevertheless, he managed to create a few compositions of remarkable grace and beguiling charm, writing (as he put it) in a "lighter more feminine style".

In his letter of 15 August 1839 to Ernst Becker, Schumann characterized both the Arabeske and Blumenstück as "delicate -- for ladies".

The piece moves lithely between contrasting moods, and seems to conclude with a gentle recapitulation of the opening material.