Composed in Vienna in 1838 along with several other shorter pieces, Schumann’s Arabesque has found a permanent place in the general piano repertoire. It may owe its lightness and grace to Schumann’s urge to "rise up and become the favorite composer of all the ladies of Vienna." As a result, the Arabesque is a prime example of entertainment music in the best sense of the word. The musical text of this new edition has been thoroughly revised and provided with an informative preface and editorial notes.
