Fantasiestücke, Op. 12

[1] Schumann composed the pieces with the characters Florestan and Eusebius in mind, representing the duality of his personality.

"Des Abends" ("In the Evening") in D♭ major / Sehr innig zu spielen (Play very intimately) Con molto affetto

"Aufschwung" ("Soaring", literally "Upswing") in F minor / Sehr rasch (Very rapidly) Molto allegro

Schumann conceived of "Aufschwung" as a depiction of the character Florestan indulging in his desires, and as the Norton Anthology of Western Music describes "at the height of his passions.

The two characters of Florestan and Eusebius (the interaction of which Schumann was attempting to represent within the Fantasiestücke) unite for the first time in this piece, which has both "passion together with nocturnal calm.

"[2] Schumann said to Clara to have perceived in "In der Nacht" the story of Grillparzer's Hero and Leander, albeit not until after writing it: "It is an old and beautiful romantic legend.

When I play ′Die Nacht′ [sic] I can never forget this image: first he plunges into the sea – she cries out – he answers – he swims safely to shore through the waves – now the cantilenas as they embrace – then he must leave but cannot bear to part – until night again enshrouds everything in darkness.

Like the previous piece, this also juxtaposes both the passionate and dreamy side of Schumann within the same work (as opposed to representing each separately, as in the first subset).

In this piece, the whimsical nature of Florestan is set against the ethereal tranquility of Eusebius, resulting in a "placid narrative together with rich veins of humor.