Robert Schumann

Album for the Young, Op. 68

Robert Schumann's 'Album for the Young' is one of the milestones of educationally inspired piano literature. This edition does not focus on systematic technical studies but on the development of the player's musical performance as well as on the realisation of musical associations. In this progressively structured work, the pieces 'Für Kleinere' [For the Younger Ones] are followed by a second section 'Für Erwachsenere' [For the More Grown-Ups] which, both technically and intellectually, leaves the world of the childlike behind again and again (e.g. Mignon). This, in particular, provides a great set of repertoire for adults who want to resume piano playing, which gives extra relavence to Schumann's opus. The appendix of the revised new edition of the Wiener Urtext Edition also contains pieces originally intended for the album which, ultimately, were not included in the printed collection. The music section is complemented by the composer's 'Musikalische Haus- und Lebensregeln', which had already been integrated in the first reprints, including their original translations into English and French, the latter of which was written by none other than Franz Liszt.