The three soloistic compositions were much influenced by a fundamental new beginning in composing. His works were no longer to be characterized by intuitive composing based on sudden impulses. Now, counterpoint and fugue rather moved into the focus of Schumann's interest, with the latter being not least inspired by his close relationship with Mendelssohn who was an excellent interpreter of works by Bach. The fact that counterpoint was anything but a dead relic to Schumann can be gathered from his reviews: 'In any case, the best fugue always is the one that the public takes for a Strauss waltz, [?].'
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