The “Davidsbund” – a group of artists who had joined forces in a revolutionary struggle against the backward structures in the artistic world, amongst whose members he counted both real and imaginary people – only existed in Schumann’s imagination. He published the first edition of his “Davidstänze” under the pseudonym “Florestan and Eusebius” – the two characters that represented contrasting (impetuous and gentle) aspects of his own self.

Clara Wieck, to whom he unsuccessfully proposed sever...