Schumann's lovely Arabesque in C major, Op. 18, is much loved by pianists at all levels. Though it has been a specialty of virtuosi like Horowitz and Pollini, the work's technical demands are within the range of many amateurs. The piece, about seven minutes in duration, unfolds as a rondo with a light, skipping main theme underpinned by a rippling left-hand accompaniment. Though in the minor mode, the B and C sections maintain the prevailing sprightly, occasionally pastoral mood. The character of the peaceful coda is that of a lullaby tinged with whimsy and nostalgia.



© All Music Guide