Originally this work was written for horn and piano.

In 1849 Schumann turned to a new genre: works for piano and accompanying instrument. He wrote Fantasies and Romances for wind and provided an alternative part for string instruments. Thus Schumann also wrote an alternative part for his Adagio and Allegro op. 70 for Horn and Piano, namely for the cello.

Clara Schumann played the new work together with the horn player E. Julius Schlitterlau, writing afterwards in her diary: "The piece is splendid, fresh and passionate, just as I like it!"