Immerse yourself in a world of innocence and wonder with Johann Sebastian Bach's "Scenes from Childhood," a captivating classical piano album set to release on December 26, 2024, under Warner Classics. This enchanting collection spans a generous 1 hour and 40 minutes, featuring a diverse array of compositions that evoke the spirit of youth and playfulness.
The album opens with Bach's own "Prelude in F Major" from the Notebook for Wilhelm Friedemann Bach, setting a tender and introspective tone. From there, the journey traverses through the works of musical giants such as Mozart, Beethoven, and Chopin, each piece carefully selected to capture the essence of childhood. Notable highlights include Schumann's "Kinderszenen," Prokofiev's playful "March" from Music for Children, and Tchaikovsky's whimsical "The Organ-Grinder Sings" from his Children's Album.
What sets this album apart is its eclectic mix of both well-known and lesser-discovered gems. Pieces like Poulenc's "Staccato" from Villageoises and Britten's "L'enfance" offer a refreshing departure from the standard classical repertoire, while the inclusion of folk-inspired works such as Bartók's "Runaway Horse" and Janáček's "Mládí" adds a touch of cultural richness.
"Scenes from Childhood" is not just a tribute to the innocence of youth; it is a celebration of the timeless beauty of classical music. Whether you are a seasoned classical enthusiast or a newcomer to the genre, this album promises a delightful and enriching listening experience. Prepare to be charmed by the purity and joy that each note brings, as Johann Sebastian Bach and his contemporaries invite you into a world where imagination knows no bounds.
Schumann: Kinderszenen, Op. 15: No. 1, Von fremden Ländern und MenschenRobert Schumann, Maria João Pires
Haydn: Toy Symphony: III. Finale. Allegro (Also Attributed to Mozart or Angerer)Joseph Haydn, Sir Neville Marriner, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields
Mozart: Das Kinderspiel, K. 598Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Sabine Devieilhe, Mathieu Pordoy
Satie: Sports et divertissements: No. 6, Colin-maillardErik Satie, Michel Legrand
Tansman: Pour les enfants, Quatrième recueil: No. 2, Cheval mécaniqueAlexandre Tansman, Lily Laskine
Prokofiev: Music for Children, Op. 65: No. 10, MarchSergei Prokofiev, György Sebök
Bizet: Petite suite from "Jeux d'enfants", Op. 22, WD 39: III. Impromptu "La toupie"Georges Bizet, Orchestre National De France, Seiji Ozawa
Kabalevsky: 30 Pieces for Children, Op. 27: No. 2, Little SongDmitry Kabalevsky, Georges Pludermacher
Handel: Laudate pueri Dominum, HWV 237: I. Laudate pueri DominumGeorge Frideric Handel, Andrew Parrott, Emma Kirkby, Taverner Choir, Taverner Players
Stravinsky: Valse pour les enfantsIgor Stravinsky, Michel Béroff
Bach: Notebook for Wilhelm Friedemann Bach: No. 8, Prelude in F Major, BWV 927Johann Sebastian Bach, Gustav Leonhardt
Bartók: For Children, Sz. 42, Book I "Hungarian Folk Songs": No. 13, Runaway Horse. AndanteBéla Bartók, Dezsö Ranki
Kosma: Suite symphonique d'après "Les portes de la nuit": IV. Chanson "Les enfants qui s'aiment"Joseph Kosma, Michel Plasson, Orchestre Du Capitole De Toulouse
Beethoven: Piano Exercise in C Major, Hess 59Ludwig van Beethoven, Aurélien Pontier
Ravel: Ma mère l'Oye, M. 60: III. Laideronnette, impératrice des pagodesMaurice Ravel, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra
Webern: KinderstückAnton Webern, Georges Pludermacher
Debussy / Orch. Caplet: La boîte à joujoux, CD 136, L. 128: I. Prélude. Le sommeil de la boîteClaude Debussy, Armin Jordan, Basler Sinfonie Orchester
Khachaturian: Children's Album, Book I, Op. 62: No. 1, AndantinoAram Khachaturian, Alexandre Tharaud
Zelenka: Laudate pueri, ZWV 81: I. Laudate pueriJan Dismas Zelenka, Diana Damrau, Matthias Höfs, Wolfgang Zerer, Riccardo Minasi, NDR Radiophilharmonie
Mendelssohn: 6 Kinderstücke, Op. 72: No. 1, Allegro non troppo, MWV U171Felix Mendelssohn, Doomin Kim
Vivaldi: Gloria in D Major, RV 589: I. Gloria in excelsis DeoAntonio Vivaldi, Sir Neville Marriner, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Academy of St Martin in the Fields Chorus
CPE Bach: Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach: March in D Major (Formerly Attributed to JS Bach as BWV Anh. 122)Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, Georges Pludermacher
Gounod: 15 Mélodies enfantines: No. 15, L'arithmétiqueCharles Gounod, Felicity Lott, Ann Murray, Graham Johnson
Ropartz: Jeunes filles: No. 5, La capricieuseGuy Ropartz, Jean Doyen
Grieg: The Mountain Maid, Op. 67: No. 6, Kidlings' Dance (Version for Trumpet and Piano)Edvard Grieg, Tine Thing Helseth, Håvard Gimse
Rossini: Péchés de vieillesse, Vol. 5 "Album pour les enfants adolescents": No. 10, Ouf ! Les petits poisGioachino Rossini, Aldo Ciccolini
Elgar: Dream Children, Op. 43: I. AndanteEdward Elgar, Andrew Davis, BBC Symphony Orchestra
Villa-Lobos: A prole do bebê No. 1, W140: VI. A pobrezinha "A boneca de trapo"Heitor Villa-Lobos, Nelson Freire
Mussorgsky: The Nursery: No. 7, Sailor the CatModest Mussorgsky, Boris Christoff, Alexandre Labinsky
Mompou: Scènes d'enfants: No. 5, Jeunes filles au jardinFederico Mompou
Britten: 4 Chansons françaises: No. 3, L'enfanceBenjamin Britten, Sir Simon Rattle, Jill Gomez, City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Pierné: Album pour mes petits amis, Op. 14: No. 6, Marche des petits soldats de plombGabriel Pierné, Diane Andersen
Berlioz: L'enfance du Christ, Op. 25, H 130, Pt. 2 "La fuite en Égypte": L'adieu des bergers. "Il s'en va loin de la terre" (Chœur)Hector Berlioz, André Cluytens, Choeurs Rene Duclos, Orchestre De La Société Des Concerts Du Conservatoire
Tchaikovsky: Children's Album, Op. 39: No. 23, The Organ-Grinder SingsPyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Viktoria Postnikova
Saint-Saëns: Étienne Marcel, Act III: Divertissement. Entrée des écoliers et des ribaudes (Transcr. Debussy for 2 Pianos)Camille Saint-Saëns, Jean-Pierre Armengaud, Olivier Chauzu
Granados: Cuentos de la juventud, Op. 1: No. 1, Dedicatoria (Transcr. Isbin for Guitar)Enrique Granados, Sharon Isbin
Dutilleux: Bergerie (Extrait du "Jardin d'enfants")Henri Dutilleux, Anne Queffélec
Mahler: Des Knaben Wunderhorn: No. 10, Lob des hohen VerstandesGustav Mahler, Daniel Harding, Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Dorothea Röschmann
Franck: Les plaintes d'une poupée, FWV 20César Franck, Pascal Devoyon
Brahms: 15 Volkskinderlieder, WoO 31: No. 4, Sandmännchen (Orch. Mackerras)Johannes Brahms, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Sir Charles Mackerras, Philharmonia Orchestra
Schubert: March for Piano Four-Hands in G Major, D. 928 "Kindermarsch"Franz Schubert, Christoph Eschenbach, Justus Frantz
Reger: 5 Neue Kinderlieder, Op. 142: No. 3, Maria am RosenstrauschMax Reger, Olaf Bär, Helmut Deutsch
Lecuona: Estampas infantiles "Diario de un niño": No. 4, Canción de lunaErnesto Lecuona, Kathryn Stott
Pergolesi: Laudate pueri Dominum: VII. Sicut erat in principioGiovanni Battista Pergolesi, Philippe Jaroussky, Coro della Radiotelevisione Svizzera Italiana, I Barocchisti, Julia Lezhneva, Diego Fasolis