Schumann, Kinderszenen, Op.15 (Vladimir Horowitz)

R.Schumann's Kinderszenen (Scenes of Childhood), Op.15, with a theme-and-structure analysis and synchronized sheet music (score)
Performance: Vladimir Horowitz (piano), 1962/11/06, 13, 29, 12/18 Stereo, CBS 30th Street Studio, New York
Analysis, Score Editing, Synch: ScoreMan

00:00 1. Von fremden Ländern und Menschen (Of Foreign Lands and Peoples)
00:00 2. Kuriose Geschichte (A Curious Story)
00:00 3. Hasche-Mann (Blind Man's Buff)
00:00 4. Bittendes Kind (Pleading Child)
00:00 5. Glückes genug (Happy Enough)
00:00 6. Wichtige Begebenheit (An Important Event)
00:00 7. Träumerei (Dreaming)
00:00 8. Am Kamin (At the Fireside)
00:00 9. Ritter vom Steckenpferd (Knight of the Hobbyhorse)
00:00 10. Fast zu ernst (Almost Too Serious)
00:00 11. Fürchtenmachen (Frightening)
00:00 12. Kind im Einschlummern (Child Falling Asleep)
00:00 13. Der Dichter spricht (The Poet Speaks)


OVERVIEW

Kinderszenen (“Scenes from Childhood”), Op.15 is a set of 13 short piano pieces written by Robert Schumann in 1838.
The pieces are not meant for children to play, but rather represent adult reflections on childhood memories and emotions.
Each miniature has a descriptive title, such as “Of Foreign Lands and Peoples,” “Curious Story,” “Pleading Child,” “Knight of the Hobbyhorse,” and the famous “Träumerei” (“Dreaming”).
The set creates a poetic, nostalgic world that moves between innocence, playfulness, tenderness, and quiet sadness.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

Schumann originally composed over 30 short pieces, then selected 13 of them to form this cycle.
He wrote them during a period of intense emotional life, partly inspired by his relationship with Clara Wieck, whom he loved deeply.
Clara had once said Schumann sometimes seemed “like a child,” which encouraged him to explore the theme of childhood from an adult’s viewpoint.
The work was published in 1838 and quickly became one of Schumann’s most beloved piano collections.

MUSICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Kinderszenen is important because it shows Schumann’s ability to express deep emotion with simple, miniature forms.
The music does not imitate children’s playing; instead, it captures the feeling of remembering childhood—with gentleness, warmth, imagination, and a little melancholy.
“Träumerei,” the seventh piece, became one of the most famous piano miniatures ever written, symbolizing innocence and introspection.
The cycle is also an early example of the Romantic idea that small pieces can carry profound emotional meaning, not only large sonatas or symphonies.
Pianists value the set for its poetry, clarity, and expressive nuance, rather than technical difficulty.



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