Soundtracks:
Sophie's Choice
My Brilliant Career
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Kinderszenen (Scenes from Childhood) Opus 15
Ironically,
the man whose life was the complete opposite of magic and delight, wrote
a cycle of all childish charm and indulgence. Robert Schumann, an amazing
piano composer who had failed to become a professional pianist, had to
do with composing for the piano, and saw his works performed by his wife
Clara Wieck, a gifted pianist on her own merit.
These 13 movements are nowadays considered some of the
most difficult ones for kids, but in those days even children could play
them, since playing the piano was part of every child's daily life in the
average aristocrat residence. The short sections are easy for listening
to, but, in fact they include a great deal of musical material, and are
not at all superficial. One should listen to this sequence of movements,
sounding as if they were pictures from a childhood photo album of a European
child of that period.
The movements are:
1
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About distant lands and people (Von fremde Ländern
und Menschen)
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2
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A strange story (Curiose Geschichte)
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3
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Catch as much as you can (Hasche-Mann)
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4
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Begging Child (Bittendes Kind)
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5
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Rather happy (Glückes genug)
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6
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An important event (Wichtige Begebenheit)
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7
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Dreaming (Träumerei)
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8
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Near the fireplace (Am Camin)
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9
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Knight of the wooden
horse (Ritter vom Steckenpferd)
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10
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Almost too serious
(Fast zu ernst)
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11
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Frightening (Fürchtenmachen)
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12
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Child falling asleep (Kind im Einschlummern)
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13
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The poet speaks (Der Dichter spricht)
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