Schumann Op. 15, no. 9 Knight of the Rocking Horse (Ritter vom Steckenpferd)
By accenting the third count of each measure, Schumann has vividly evoked the rocking horse of the title. My Alfred Masterwork edition mentions the interesting story of Ritter von Ritterstein, who, visiting with Clara Schumann in 1836, initially declined to hear her play Robert’s music, convinced that the composer would naturally play it better. I can’t imagine someone thinking that, much less having the gall to say it to Clara’s face! Perhaps von Ritterstein didn’t know that Clara Schumann was one of the supreme virtuosos of her day, but he understood once she began playing, and he promptly changed his tune.