The demand for piano duet arrangements of concert music during Schumann’s lifetime was considerable. An inveterate piano duettist himself, Schumann supervised the String Quartet arrangements made by the talented young composer Otto Dresel, whose brilliant solutions to formal problems produced these acclaimed adaptations, for use in the home or the salon. It was another fine arranger and composer, Theodor Kirchner—admired by Clara Schumann and Brahms—who arranged the Studies for the pedal piano, Op 56, in 1888. This is the second of seven volumes to include Schumann’s entire orchestral works, and selected chamber works, arranged for piano duet.
