4 Pièces caractéristiques by Clara Schumann was composed between 1834 and 1836, and published in 1836. The entire work is labeled as opus 5, and is written for solo piano. The pieces are as follows.
I. Impromptu: Le Sabbat is written in a time signature of 3/8. It is in A minor and the tempo marking is "Allegro furioso."
II. Caprice à la Boléro is written in a time signature of 3/4. It begins in E minor with a tempo marking of "Presto." After the opening statement, it transitions to E major with a tempo marking of "più tranquillo e dolce." The E minor theme and tempo return, and the piece concludes with an E major variation of the original E minor theme and tempo.
III. Romance is written in a time signature of 3/4. It begins in B major with a tempo marking of "Andante con sentimento." It transitions to D major with a tempo marking of "con anima." It concludes in B minor with a tempo marking of "a tempo dolente."
IV. Scene Fantastique: Le Ballet des Revenants is written in a time signature of 4/4. It begins in B minor with a tempo marking of "Allegro ma non troppo." It transitions to 2/4 with a marking of "L'istesso tempo." From there, it stays in 2/4 but transitions to G major and B minor in turn. The concluding section's key signature is B minor, but the section is functionally in B major via the use of accidentals. That concluding section is marked "più moderato."
The Pièces caractéristiques were recorded by Jozef De Beenhouwer for the Classic Produktion Osnabrück label in 2001 as part of Clara Schumann: Complete Piano Works (cpo 9997582)
