Piano Forum

Has anyone made a project of learning the entire thing? I want to do this once I finished university this year.

The pieces are relatively simple but so beautiful. I love Knecht Ruprecht. When the melody moves to the left hand in the middle it's very mysterious.

Also can anyone reccomend similar collections of simple but beautiful pieces?

This is half musicological fact, and secondly personal opinion.

1) In the 19th century, when this music was written, it was not the norm to play collections in recital.  The first reason is that most concerts were what we would call today "variety shows."  Nobody, including the Composers themselves, played all of the Chopin Etudes or, until Clara Schumann, even played a Beethoven Sonata in its entirety.

The first act of such a concert would be an Orchestra performing a movement from a particular Symphony or an Opera Overture (just like today).  And then, the rest of the program would include performances by various instrumental soloists, singers, a movement from a Piano Sonata or Concerto, and usually a Chamber Music group (Kenneth Hamilton, "After The Golden Age.").

2)  In the latter half of the 20th Century, the only Schumann Collection regularly performed (and recorded) by all of the great Concert Pianists is the "Kinderszenen," which I play.  It is a great piece, and I highly recommend it, if you have not already learned it.

3)  If you pursue your personal muse by playing the "Album For The Young," please remember that Clara was the one who originally catalogued this great composer's piano music, after his death.  To my recollection, this lady performed everything this man ever composed.

And, for the record, all of her performances have been researched by musicologists.  Accordingly, the "Album For the Young," is never listed in this catalogue as any piece she ever played in performance.

Think about it.