Schumann R. Children's Scenes. Light pieces for piano

The “Children's Scenes” (op. 15, 1938) happened to take special place among Robert Schumann's piano cycles. This is an unpretentious suite of programmatic pieces, inspired by green years. However, it is more to something than meets the eyes, as it's used in Schumann's creativity. The composer himself explained the idea of the “Children's Scenes” to his wife Klara Wieck: “This is the recall to the words you once wrote to me: Sometimes I may seem a child to you, — … I was really charmed and as a result there appeared 30 little amusing pieces. I selected 12 of them and united under the title Children's Scenes. You'll enjoy them, but forget about your virtuoso piano playing”. Thus the “Children's Scenes” occurred to be one more manifestation of Robert Schumann's love for Klara. These miniatures were casted by her personality, so as the years of youth, hours spent by the composer in 1830 with master Friedrich Wieck and his children Klara and Alwin. These reminiscences were especially precious to Klara, who responded to Schumann after the “Children's Scenes” have been received by her: “What a plenty of things is concealed in your sounds, as I perceive them! The whole world of your own is represented in these pieces”. Later Schumann explained the idea of the “Children's Scenes” to his publisher: “They are addressed to the past time, being intended for the grown-ups”.

Contents:

1. About Foreign Lands and Men (Music text example)
2. Curious Story
3. Tag
4. Begging Child
5. Ample Luck
6. Significant Event
7. Dreams
8. Near the Fire-Place
9. Hobby-Horse
10. Not So Earnest
11. Fear
12. Baby Falling Asleep
13. Poet is Speakong