Julius Caesar is usually associated with two other Schumann concert overtures written about that time, also inspired by great literature: The Bride of Messina, Op.
[1] The Julius Caesar overture is in the key of F minor and is scored for piccolo, flute, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, timpani and strings.
[4] It was not intended to portray the historical person of Julius Caesar, but was inspired by William Shakespeare's eponymous play.
[5] In his sketches for the work, beneath the staves on the first page Schumann wrote down what he considered the central "plot points" of the play: "Caesar / Life in Rome.
On 30 July, against Müller's advice, he attended the first rehearsal of the Julius Caesar overture under Tausch, but became agitated and took over the conducting of the work himself.
[11] The result for Schumann was exhaustion, and Müller recommended he have more intensive treatment, and sent him for sea baths at Scheveningen, Netherlands.
Eric Sams suggests there are many other clues throughout Schumann's works, including a cipher for "C-A-E-S-A-R" in the opening chords of the Julius Caesar overture.