In 1845, Prudent performed at the palace in Berlin and was granted the title of "Pianist to His Royal Highness" by the Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, uncle of the King of Prussia. He subsequently visited the Duke frequently to perform. This work is dedicated to this Duke. Compared to the Études, Op. 16, this work is simpler and has fewer notes, yet it is more introspective and its compositional style is more mature. As the title suggests, this collection appears to have been composed with German Lieder in mind; however, the rapid fourth piece, "Struggle (Kampf)", which includes augmented intervals, can hardly be considered a song. For Prudent, the piano was not merely a tool to imitate vocal technique. He sang with his fingers, striving to elicit the unique voice of the piano. This collection can thus be regarded as a highly stylized "song" within the genre of piano music, a tradition extending from Mendelssohn's Songs Without Words.