Description
Of all the pieces in Schumann's 1848 Album for the Young, Op. 68, few are better known or more often heard at student recitals than No. 10, The Happy Farmer. Its full title, The Happy Farmer Returning from Work, reflects the bright mood of a day's work done.
In F major and 4/4, it is known for placing the melody first in the left hand while the right hand accompanies with chords, and its syncopated rhythm gives the piece a lively bounce. It is a compact 50 seconds and 352 notes, with a range from B-flat 2 to F5 that suits a 61-key keyboard.
Rated beginner level, its real task is the balance between the hands: singing a melody in the low register while touching in the right-hand chords lightly. The hand colours show at a glance which hand has the tune. Slow the playback, listen for the left-hand melody alone, and find a level for the right-hand chords that does not cover it. It is a piece that makes the joy of playing easy to feel.
A collection of 43 piano pieces Schumann gave to his daughter Marie for her seventh birthday — musically rich works enjoyable for children and adults alike.
Browse all songs in Album for the Young Op.68 →Sheet Music
Sheet music provided by Mutopia Project
What this piece teaches
"The Happy Farmer". F major, 4/4, with the tune in the left hand and the right hand accompanying in chords - the usual roles reversed, and practice in singing in the low register.
How to practise it
- This file has an empty second track, so the left hand falls in the third colour, purple. Follow only the purple notes, and get the tune singing in the left hand alone before adding the right.
- Keep the right-hand chords short and light, always a level below the tune.
- Put the hands together at 0.75x and listen for whether the right-hand chords are covering the left-hand tune.
About the Composer
Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
Robert Schumann was a leading German Romantic composer born in Zwickau. His poetic style reflects his deep literary sensibility, and his wife Clara Schumann was herself a renowned pianist and composer. His pedagogical piano collection Album for the Young remains beloved for its simple yet evocative miniatures for children and families. This site includes pieces from that collection and from Kinderszenen, Op. 15.
View all works by Schumann →