Promenades d'un solitaire, Op. 78

The first of three books of 'Promenades d'un solitaire' (Walks of a Solitary), Op. 78, composed c.1851. Six character pieces evoking the moods and scenes of a solitary walk in nature — a favourite Romantic topos derived ultimately from Rousseau and developed through Schubert's Winterreise and Schumann's Waldszenen. Each piece in the set has its own character marking and expressive world, from the energetic opening to the lyrical and introspective central pieces and the characteristic finale. Heller was a close friend and admirer of Schumann (who praised his music warmly in the Neue Zeitschrift für Musik) and the Promenades show Schumann's influence in their literary-poetic conception of the piano character piece.