Wilhelm Petersen (1890-1957) was one of the 20th century composers who pursued a path away from the avant-garde. Although he went along with the revolutionary beginnings of expressionism with understanding for the need for new forms of expression, around 1925 after an experimental phase on the fringe of tonality he arrived at a tonally centred an formally clarified tonal language. His interest lay not so much in reviving romantic subjectivism as rather in finding the essence of tonal language by returning to what he called "basic musical qualities". Bruno Walter wrote about Wilhelm Petersen’s work (letter dated 11th February 1958): "... real musical invention, mastery of creation and depth and wealth of feeling... I am firmly convinced that the originality and significance of the master’s musical language will gain these works the fame which they deserve.“