In 1849 Schumann published six Impromptus for piano four-hands with the title ŒñBilder aus OstenŒî. As can be seen from the preface of the first edition, Schumann was inspired by the ŒñMaqamaŒî Œ_ a genre of Arab rhymed prose Œ_ by the medieval poet Hariri in the translation by Friedrich Rí_ckert. Schumann could not banish the protagonist in the Maqama, Abu Said, whom he likened to the German character Till Eulenspiegel from his thoughts whilst he was writing the works. This explains the Œñforeign characterŒñ of the pieces. Even 150 years later, the ŒñPictures from the EastŒî with their nuanced use of a wide range of sound possibilities in the interplay of the four hands, have lost none of their charm.
