Elisabeth v. Herzogenberg

24 Volkskinderlieder

The present collection of folk children's songs for voice and piano comes from the small but fine ouvre of Elisabeth vom Herzogenberg, wife of the Austrian composer Heinrich von Herzogenberg. It appeared in print in 1889 by the publishing house of J. Rieter-Biedermann, Leipzig. The new Carus edition, now presented with the support of the International Herzogenberg Society, presents the collection for the first time with an introduction and scholarly commentary.
Elisabeth von Herzogenberg had originally intended the songs, composed in 1881 during a period of illness, only for her circle of friends; the universally positive response, however, led to their publication. No less a person than Clara Schumann commented on the songs: 'How delightfully you have set them, the mother of the children must be quite a proficient clavier player'.
The collection, which is also suitable for use in children's choirs, contains many melodies that have fallen into oblivion and whose rediscovery is highly worthwhile. In view of the artistically high quality arrangements, Elisabeth von Herzogenberg could rightly speak to her publisher of 'really valuable' melodies, which stand out 'from the usual children's song slang'. The individual pieces prove to be true gems that more than hint at the artistic rank of the author.