F. Schumann – Kreisleriana op. 16 n. 7  (1838)
 
Kreisleriana Op 16 is a cornerstone of Schumann’s composition and the romantic era in general. Inspired by Johannes Kreisler, the eccentric choirmaster in E.T.A. Hoffman’s novels which serves as an alter ego of Schumann’s, the set of 8 piano pieces reflects the composer's emotional intensity, imaginative musical language and tumultuous personality. The pieces range from playful and virtuosic to dark and introspective, exploring unconventional harmonic progressions and melodic lines that would inspire later composers such as Schoenberg and Webern. The 7th piece, named Sehr Rasch (very fast) is pure fire. In less than two minutes it unleashes a blast of sixteenth notes, over which a passionate melody floats in and out of the listener's conscious awareness, creating a growing tension that is unexpectedly released in the final coda.