The demand for piano duet arrangements of concert music during Schumann's lifetime was very considerable. An inveterate piano duettist himself, Schumann supervised the String Quartet arrangements made by the talented young composer Otto Dressel, whose brilliant solutions to formal problems produced these acclaimed adaptations, for use in home or salon. It was another fine arranger and composer, Theodore Kirchner - admired by Clara Schumann and Brahms - who arranged the Studies for the pedal piano, Op.56, in 1888. This is the second of seven volumes to include Schumann's entire orchestral works, and selected chamber ones, arranged for piano duet.