Description
The sixth piece of the Album for the Young, "Poor Orphan." A plaintive minor-key melody gives this piece an unusual emotional depth among the collection's more childlike numbers. Running about a minute and a half with around 373 notes, somewhat more than others in the set, the notes themselves stay simple even as conveying its sorrowful character becomes the real challenge. Though scaled for beginners, it is a piece worth working into for the expressive playing it fosters.
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.
Sheet Music
Sheet music provided by Mutopia Project
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 63 of his works, including several pieces from that collection.
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