In der Nacht

In der Nacht is the fifth piece of Robert Schumann's Fantasiestucke and the first of the second subset of four. "In der Nacht" (german for 'In the night') is followed by Fabel and is preceded by Grillen. The piece should be played 'with passion' as indicated by the tempo marking of "Mit Leidenschaft". This is piece is written with the key signature of f minor, minor iii of the previous piece in D-flat major and minor iv of the next piece (Fabel*) in C major. The two characters of Florestan and Eusebius (the interaction of which Schumann was attempting to represent within the Fantasiestucke) unite for the first time in this piece, which has both "passion together with nocturnal calm." [Ewen, David, "The Complete Book of Classical Music", page 474, Prentice-Hall, 1965]

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