Description
Hunting Song, the seventh piece of Schumann's Album for the Young, Op. 68, a collection he wrote for children in 1848. It belongs to the first part, For Younger Children, and among its short scenes and stories this one paints a hunt with real energy.
In 6/8, with a key signature of one flat, it combines a leaping melody evoking hunting horns with a lively accompaniment of repeated chords. Packed into just 73 seconds and 616 notes, it calls for brisk momentum even in its short span. Its range runs from A2 to B-flat 5, within a 61-key keyboard.
Energetic in character, it calls for crisp rhythm, well-placed accents, and quick reflexes to catch the leaping line accurately, making it a satisfying intermediate-level piece. Feeling 6/8 as two large beats of three gives it the drive of a gallop. Learn where the hand lands on each leap with the A-B loop at a slower playback speed, and bring the tempo back only once the leaps land securely.
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
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 →