Tchaikovsky: Album for the Young, Op. 39 (Peters)

Tchaikovsky: Children's Album op. 39 (Peters). The first Russian children's works were a long time coming. The world of children interested Mussorgsky and Balakirev as well as Tchaikovsky and Arensky, but to write for children instead of about children and to bundle these pieces in a piano album, that was apparently a step too far.
Changes only came after the publication of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Children's Album opus 39 (1878), the first and still the most famous Russian children's album. The eleven pieces are written in the classical traditions of Russian music and have thematic and musical similarities with The Seasons, Waltzes, and other piano works by Tchaikovsky.

In short musical sketches, the composer portrays his ideal image of the early years of life, which brings exciting adventures every day and is filled with stories from the old nanya, the attention of a loving mother, and carefree play with wooden horses, tin soldiers, and dolls. The technical possibilities of all pieces are adapted to children's hands and based on position playing – traditional for the Russian piano school – and chord technique.

Tchaikovsky's idea of enriching piano literature for children with accessible, light musical pieces à la Schumann was received with enthusiasm and applauded by colleagues and piano enthusiasts of all ages. And yet, the example was not massively followed. Russian composers were busy creating an iron repertoire of Russian national music and preferred to specialize in writing piano music for performing virtuosos. A children's album took as much time as composing works for adults, required experience in teaching children, and – often lacking – knowledge of pedagogy and educational psychology. Initially, the baton was taken over by only two younger colleagues of Tchaikovsky: the now almost forgotten Aleksandr Kopylov and Anatoly Lyadov, known to pianists usually for only one work (The Musical Snuff Box).

Merk	Edition Peters
Serie	Average Audition Pieces
Instrument	Piano
Artikelnummer	EP3782
Barcode (EAN)	9790014018238