Album Leaves

The high opus number suggests that it is a late work, yet in reality the work comprises twenty single movements which were composed 10 to 15 years before publication. This means that they were written around the time of Schumann’s early masterpieces such as “Carnaval” op. 8 or the “Romances” op. 28 in the 1830s; but they remained unpublished. Following the tremendous success of the “Album for the Youth” op. 68 in 1848, Schumann’s piano music was once again in high demand. The composer therefore published a second selection of works, enabling him to supplement his earnings. Thanks to this, we have a charming collection of easy-to-play pieces, of which the “Little Lullaby” (no. 6) has become the most famous.