In 1853 Robert Schumann composed five piano-accompanied cello romances. The works were never published though as Clara Schumann destroyed the unpublished manuscript in 1893, 40 years after they were written. In his six duo pieces for violoncello and piano, Heinz Holliger refers to these compositions which turned to ash: the title is a combination of the French words ‘romances’ and ‘cendres’. Many allusions are hidden in the music itself. In the opening procession part, for example, one can...

• Kondukt I (C.S.
• R.S.)
• I Aurora (Nachts)
• II (R)asche(s) Flügelschlagen
• III "Der Würgengel der Gegenwart"
• IV "heiter bewegt" ("Es wehet ein Schatten darin")
• Kondukt II ("Der bleiche Engel der Zukunft")