Commissioned by the Ruhr Piano Festival for Alfred Brendel's 75 th birthday. The cello part at the premier was played by Alfred Brendel's son Adrian. The work has an epigram by Rilke, from "Liebes-Lied" (Love-Song): "Auf welches Instrument sind wir gespannt? / Und welcher Geiger hat uns in der Hand?" (Upon what instrument have we been strung? / And what fiddler has us in his hand?).