The Davidsbündlertänze, op. 6, “differ from Carnaval greatly, as faces differ from masks,” wrote Schumann to Clara from Vienna in 1838. “Though I may misjudge, as I have not been able to distance myself from them. One thing I do know, that they were produced with joy, whereas the others often caused toil and anguish.” At the beginning of the work he quoted Clara Wieck’s Marzurka, op. 6, no. 5. Afterwards followed two books of nine dances each. Schumann termed them, “Dances of death, St. Vitus’ dances, dances of the Graces, goblin’s dances, etc.” In the first edition he wrote either Eusebius or Florestan under each of the respective dances.