Schumann "Kinderszenen" Opus 15 - complete

Carey · 2024-07-29T01:14:44+00:00

First Fiano Tell post. Recorded July, 2024 on Mason & Hamlin BB. A bucket list project now completed. Started working on these 62 years ago when I was...

navindra

Carey Bravo! That was thoroughly entertaining! 👏

I listened to your entire performance in one sitting, something that's rare for me, and I feel thoroughly enriched by it. Thank you!

Some of the highlights for me were "About Strange Lands and People", "Dreaming", "Frightening", and "Child Falling Asleep", but really, I enjoyed every single piece even though I was hearing several of them for the first time.

Thanks a lot for sharing this tremendous accomplishment of yours. 👏

Carey

navindra Wow - thank you, Navindra. I'm so glad you enjoyed it. I tried to be as true to the score as I could, and it was a great learning experience for me. I can understand why so many "great" pianists include this set in their recital programs. While technically easier than the majority of Schumann's output,for solo piano these are still "mini" masterpieces. Cheers !!!!!

PianoMonk

Carey I put this on, then sat back, could easily have been the PBS classical radio station. First rate performance, excellent sound and recording.

Carey

PianoMonk Thank you so much, Clarence. I truly appreciate the positive feedback - particularly from someone as multi-talented as you. I started working on this set 62 years when I was in high school.. Figured it was time to revisit it, learn the remaining pieces, and record the entire thing. It was definitely worth the effort.

Sophia

Well, I listened to the whole recording. I planned to listen to each piece individually, and then ended up breathlessly listening for the full 20 minutes. I knew some of those pieces individually but I never heard them in sequence like that.

Once upon a time we purchased a CD full of classical sheet music, so I looked up the Kinderszenen and read along with you. Some are famous, such as Dreaming (called Reverie on my sheet) - probably my personal favourite. I will do my own dreaming of playing some of those one day - maybe when I'm 99 like your mother 🙂 Thank you for recording these!

Carey

Sophia Sophia - I'm flattered that you llistened to the entire recording. Thank you. I'm also impressed that you've been taking lessons since January 2024. I listened to your recent video, and you are progressing quite well. It won't be long before you should be able to tackle the first piece in Kinderszenen, "Of Strange Lands and People." It's probably the easiest one in the set. - followed by the last piece, "The Poet Speaks." Keep up the good work - and thanks again for your nice comments.

Sophia

Carey It won't be long before you should be able to tackle the first piece in Kinderszenen

Oh I can't wait 🙂 That one is very famous too and ever so gentle... I'd love to be able to play that. I look forward to listening to more of your work 🙂

Carey

Sophia I have no doubt that you will get there - even sooner than you think. Keep up the good work !!!!!

Simonb

Hi Carey

Thanks for sharing, that's lovely playing. It's a long term ambition of mine to learn the whole set. I played Child Falling Asleep for my ABRSM grade 7 last year. As you say these are not as difficult as a lot of Schumann, but they are not easy. My grade performance (for which I got 26/30) was certainly not as good as yours.

Cheers

Carey

Simonb Thank you, Simon. Learning the entire set was a long term ambition of mine as well, however it took me over 60 years to get around to finally do it. Each piece has it's challenges, however, the most difficult one for me was No. 10, "Almost too Serius." Nasty key signature and difficult to maintain the flow and balance between the hands. Best of luck to you. Keep up the good work !!

Sgisela

Carey beautifully done! I’m not sure I’ve listened to the complete set before. It’s really enjoyable to hear the contrasting ideas between the different pieces, but all having a somewhat nostalgic and reminiscent mood.

I think I particularly liked the latter part of the set (especially starting with Almost too serious, and I agree with you and others that Child Falling Asleep is the most impactful of the set).

Anyways, I enjoyed it very much and applaud you for sticking to it! I’ve played pieces from sets with the aspiration of one day being able to do the whole thing, but I do wonder if I’ll ever get around to those projects.

Carey

Sgisela Thanks so much for listening and commenting. I truly appreciate it. While the Opus 15 was doable as a set, I've decided that it's OK to pick and choose individual pieces from a set that are both appealing and playable. I simply don't have the time, energy or ability at this stage of my life to learn the entire Davidsbundlertanze or Kreisleriana }(that ship has sailed) so I've been working on individual pieces in those sets that resonate with me. Then, of course, there's the music of other composers to learn as well .......ha ha. Cheers !!!!!

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