Robert Schumann's popular character piece "The Wild Horse- man" from "Album for the Young" (op. 68) needn't be reserved for stallion-like virtuoso pianists; just the same, it can be great fun for a pack of four bassoonists. Afterwards the "The Wild Horseman" is virtually galloping through a range of music literature. In four variations he meets some other famous melodies and pieces of instrumental music that can be spotted on programmatic pathways of illustrious riding animals.