Description
In spring 1838 Schumann composed 30 short, sweet things, as he called them in a letter to his fiancée Clara Wieck. He originally composed these under the title Kindergeschichten and intended them as a supplement to the Noveletten op. 21, also composed in 1838. From these piano miniatures he chose twelve pieces. At the beginning of the following year, now expanded with a thirteenth piece, they were published as Scenes from Childhood by Breitkopf & Härtel in Leipzig. The collection centred on Träumerei which is the seventh and the most famous piece in the collection.
The significance of the cycle was completely misjudged by the critic Ludwig Rellstab but it was enthusiastically received by Liszt. He wrote to Schumann in June 1839 that he was frequently playing Scenes from Childhood to his then three-and-a-half year old daughter Blandine with enthusiasm, but particularly to himself.
Scenes from Childhood op. 15 are published in a scholarly-critical Urtext edition, reflecting the latest state of research. This is one of Schumann’s most popular piano cycles which is highly ranked in Romantic piano literature. The fingering takes contemporary performing practise as well as playing on the modern concert grand piano into consideration.
• Urtext edition based on all available sources and reflecting the latest research findings
• With fingering and suggestions for performance by Ragna Schirmer
• With detailed foreword (Ger/Eng) and critical commentary (Eng)