Presents

Robert Schumann / Benjamin Godard

1. Of Foreign Lands & People 2. A Curious Story 3. Blind Man's Buff 4. A Pleading Child 5. Happy Enough

7. Dreaming (Träumerei) 8. At the Fireside 10. Almost too Serious  11. Frightening  12. Child Falling Asleep 13. The Poet Speaks

Kinderszenen-Scenes from Childhood, Op.15

Arranged for String Quartet by Benjamin Godard

Benjamin Godard (1849-95) was born in Paris. He studied at the Paris Conservatory composition with Henri Napoleon Reber and violin with Henri Vieuxtemps. He was somewhat of a prodigy on that instrument, as well as on the viola, and accompanied Vieuxtemps to Germany on concert tours on two occasions. Godard enjoyed chamber music and played in several performing ensembles. This experience stood him good stead when it came to writing effective chamber music compositions. In 1878, Godard was the co-winner with Théodore Dubois, head of the Paris Conservatory, of a musical competition instituted by the city of Paris. He composed music with great facility and from 1878 up to the time until his death Godard composed a surprisingly large number of works, including the opera Jocelyn, from which the famous "Berceuse" has become perhaps his best known work. He also composed several symphonic works, ballets, concertos, overtures and chamber music, including three string quartets and two piano trios.

Robert Schumann’s Kinderszenen (Scenes from childhood) was completed in 1838 and was originally for piano. He wrote 30 movements for this work but only chose 13 for the final version. The work became immensely popular and inspired several arrangements for various combinations of instruments. Of the 13 pieces, the seventh, entitled Träumerei (dreaming) not only became the most famous of the 13, but also one of his very best known pieces. The only title Schumann initially gave the work was Leichte Stücke or Easy Pieces. Only later, did he decide to add titles to each movment. And even then, he described the titles as nothing more than hints for performance and interpretation.

While Träumerei alone has been arranged for string quartet by several composers, the only complete arrangement of Kinderszenen for string quartet is by Benjamin Godard. And it is unlikely that his arrangement, given his experience as a chamber musician and quartet player, will be surpassed by another should there be ever be one.

An excellent choice for concert as well as for amateur players.

Parts: $19.95