Leif Ove Andsnes, the pianist on this album, was inspired by Vladimir Horowitz's arrangement of Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition and has taken the liberty of following in his footsteps.
Composer Biography
Robert Schumann, composer of Kinderszenen, was a father of eight children and composed many pieces for children, influencing music education for over a century.
Composition History
Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition was written as a personal homage to his close friend, the visionary painter and architect Victor Hartmann, who died suddenly in 1873.
Compositional Technique
Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition is unconventional in its structure, harmonies, and its mix of Russian, Latin, French, German, and Italian subtitles.
Composition History
Schumann's Kinderszenen, subtitled 'reminiscences of a grown-up for grown-ups', describes children at play and was not intended for children to perform.
Compositional Technique
The 'Promenade' theme in Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition links the individual pictures and represents the gallery visitor, eventually transforming into a quasi-religious theme.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Mussorgsky's vision for Pictures at an Exhibition was considered greater than his ability to write for the piano, leading many, including Maurice Ravel, to orchestrate the work.
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