Schumann's 'Album for the Young' Op. 68 is progressively structured, moving from simpler to more difficult keys and pieces, and alternating between homophonic and polyphonic writing.
Composition History
Schumann's 'Three Piano Sonatas for the Young' Op. 118 were dedicated to his three oldest daughters: Marie, Elise, and Julie.
Performer Biography
Florian Uhlig, the pianist on this recording, is undertaking the first truly complete recording of Robert Schumann's solo piano works, spanning 15 CDs and presenting works from 1830 to 1854.
Composer Biography
Schumann kept a 'Little book of memories for our children' (Erinnerungsbüchelchen für unsere Kinder), begun in 1846, which documented his daughters' lives, including their school and musical developments.
Critical Reception
The 'Three Piano Sonatas for the Young' Op. 118 received no reviews upon publication and were often seen by biographers as a sign of Schumann's mental decline, until a reappraisal in 1984.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Robert Schumann, almost unique among great composers, had an intimate relationship with children and young people, viewing "childhood" as a key element of Romantic aesthetics.
Composition History
The 'Album for the Young' Op. 68 originated from Schumann's desire to compose better pieces for children's piano lessons, as he found existing material to be of poor quality.
