The Scenes from Childhood were composed in 1838, a turbulent time in Schumann’s life. He did not marry the love of his life, Clara Wieck, until a year and a half later, since the bride’s father refused to allow the marriage.

This is a very poetic and intimate composition. Its simplicity is also its difficulty. The piece was not intended to be performed by children or to them. It represents a nostalgic adult looking over its childhood.

1.    Von fremden Ländern und Menschen (Of Foreign Lands and Peoples)

2.    Curiose Geschichte (A Curious Story)

3.    Hasche-Mann (Blind Man's Buff)

4.    Bittendes Kind (Pleading Child)

5.    Glückes genug (Quite Happy)

6.    Wichtige Bebebenheit (An Important Event)

7.    Träumerei (Dreaming)

8.    Am Camin (At the Fireside)

9.       Ritter vom Steckenpferd (Knight of the Hobby-Horse)

10.   Fast zu ernst (Almost too Serious)

11.   Fürchtenmachen (Frightening)

12.   Kind im Einschlummern (Child Falling Asleep)

13.   Der Dichter spricht (The Poet Speaks)