This set of eight pieces was composed in 1837, and was dedicated to the Scottish pianist Anna Robena Laidlaw, who Schumann watched perform in Liepzig.

The set consists of very contrasting pieces, representing the duality of Schumann’s alter egos: Florestan, the passionate one, and Eusebius, the dreamer.

1. "Des Abends" ("In the Evening")

2. "Aufschwung" ("Soaring", literally "Upswing")

3. "Warum?" ("Why?")

4. "Grillen" ("Whims")

5. "In der Nacht" ("In the Night")

6. "Fabel" ("Fable")

7. "Traumes Wirren" ("Dream's Confusions")

8. "Ende vom Lied" ("End of the Song")