Träumerei

Kinderszenen; original spelling Kinderscenen, ("Scenes from Childhood"), Opus 15, by Robert Schumann (1810-1856), is a set of thirteen pieces of music for piano written in 1838. In this work, Schumann provides us with his adult reminiscences of childhood. Schumann had originally written 30 movements for this work, but chose 13 for the final version.

Nr. 7, "Träumerei" (Dreaming), is one of Schumann's best known pieces.

Schumann had originally labeled this work "Leichte Stücke" (Easy Pieces). Likewise, the section titles were only added after the completion of the music, and Schumann described the titles as "nothing more than delicate hints for execution and interpretation".

There are two transcriptions of this work for organ that I am aware. One is the attached file, and the version I've played here. It was done by Alexandre Guilmant (1837-1911), and is only the 7th of the group, "Träumerei".

The other is by the renowned English organist, John E. West (1863-1929). For his transcription, published by Novello, West transcribed not only "Träumerei", but also the 1st, "Von fremden Landern und Menschen" (Of Foreign Lands and Peoples), and the 13th, "Der Dichter spricht" (The Poet Speaks).

Oddly enough, I made a recording of the West transcriptions several years ago (it was snowing when I did them!) but never uploaded them.

This is the 6th of the Summer Dream Week Series.

Tomorrow, will end the dreamy time, assuming I can get the piece finished! If not, we may have to dream an extra day or two... ;-)