Schumann: Album for the Young, Op. 68 43 short works

Introduction

Album for the Young (Album für die Jugend), Op. 68, was composed by Robert Schumann in 1848 for his three daughters. The album consists of a collection of 43 short works. Unlike the Kinderszenen, they are suitable to be played by children or beginners. The second part, starting at Nr. 19 (Kleine Romanze), is marked Für Erwachsenere (For adults; For more grown-up ones) and contains more demanding pieces.

List of pieces

1. Melodie (help·info) (Melody), C major
2. Soldatenmarsch (Soldiers' march), G major
3. Trällerliedchen (Humming song), C major
4. Ein Choral (Chorale), G major
5. Stückchen (A little piece), C major
6. Armes Waisenkind (The poor orphan), A minor
7. Jägerliedchen (Hunting song), F major
8. Wilder Reiter (The wild rider), A minor (This piece is more commonly known in English as The Wild Horseman)
9. Volksliedchen (Folk song), D minor
10. Fröhlicher Landmann, von der Arbeit zurückkehrend  (The merry peasant, returning from work), F major (the 1907 song "Red Wing" is based on this melody)
11. Sizilianisch (Sicilienne), A minor
12. Knecht Ruprecht (Servant Ruprecht), A minor
13. Mai, lieber Mai (May, sweet May), E major
14. Kleine Studie (Little etude), G major
15. Frühlingsgesang (Spring song), E major
16. Erster Verlust (First loss), E minor
17. Kleiner Morgenwanderer (Little morning wanderer), A major
18. Schnitterliedchen (The reaper's song), C major

1. Kleine Romanze (Little romance), A minor
2. Ländliches Lied (Rustic song), A major
3. * * * (untitled), C major (based on Prison-Terzetto ("Euch werde Lohn in bessern Welten") from Beethoven's Fidelio)
4. Rundgesang (Roundelay), A major
5. Reiterstück (The horseman), D minor
6. Ernteliedchen (Harvest song), A major
7. Nachklänge aus dem Theater (Echoes from the theatre), A minor
8. * * * (untitled), F major
9. Kanonisches Liedchen (A little canon), A minor
10. Erinnerung (4 November 1847) (Remembrance), A major (the date of Felix Mendelssohn's death)
11. Fremder Mann (The stranger), D minor
12. * * * (untitled), F major
13. Kriegslied (Song of war), D major
14. Sheherazade, A minor
15. Weinlesezeit – fröhliche Zeit! (Gathering of the grapes – happy time!), E major
16. Thema (Theme), C major
17. Mignon, E-flat major
18. Lied italienischer Marinari (Italian mariners' song), G minor
19. Matrosenlied (Sailors' Song), G minor
20. Winterzeit I (Wintertime I), C minor (sometimes considered one piece with Wintertime II)
21. Winterzeit II (Wintertime II), C minor/C major
22. Kleine Fuge (Little fugue), A major
23. Nordisches Lied (Northern Song – Salute to G.), F major (dedicated to Niels Gade; it is based on the cryptogram G-A-D-E)
24. Figurierter Choral (Figured chorale), F major
25. Sylvesterlied (New Year's Eve), A major

Appendix (selection)

More pieces have been identified from various manuscripts; these are not formally numbered and are denoted as pieces from the appendix (German: Anhang).

• Soldatenmarsch (Soldiers' March, Clara Schumann version)
• Wilder Reiter (The Wild Horseman, alternate version)
• Für ganz Kleinem (For the very young)
• Puppenschlafliedchen (Dolls' lullaby)
• Canone "Aus ist der Schmaus, die Gäste gehn nach Haus" (Canon "The feast is over, the guests go home")
• Auf der Gondel (On the gondola)
• Linke Hand, soll sich auch zeigen (Left hand, should also show itself)
• Gukkuk im Versteck (Cuckoo in hiding)
• Ein Ländler von Franz Schubert (A Ländler by Franz Schubert)
• Ein Thema von Georg Friedrich Händel (A theme by George Frideric Handel)
• Haschemann
• Fest in Tact, im Tone rein, Kanon für Singstimmen (Firmly on the beat, in pure intonation, canon for voices)
• Ein Stückchen von Johann Sebastian Bach (A piece by Johann Sebastian Bach)
• Ein Trinklied von C. M. von Weber (A drinking song by Carl Maria von Weber)
• Lagune in Venedig (Lagoon in Venice)
• Thema – Beethoven Op. 109 (Theme from Beethoven's op. 109)
• Bärentanz (Bear dance)
• Eine berühmte Melodie von L. van Beethoven (A famous tune by Ludwig van Beethoven)
• Kleiner Walzer (Little waltz)
• Ein Stückchen von Mozart (A piece by Mozart)
• Rebus
• Ein Stückchen von Gluck (A piece by Gluck)
• Ein Stückchen von Beethoven (A piece by Beethoven)
• Fragment, Es Dur (Fragment E-flat major)
• Präludium (Prelude)
• Walzer (Waltz)
• * * * C Dur (C major)
• * * * G Dur (G major)
• * * * A Dur (A major)