This piece originates from Robert Schumann's 'Album für die Jugend' - a collection of 43 short works that were composed for his three daughters. The opus 68 'Album für die Jugend' is, unlike 'Kinderszenen', meant to be played by children, although the collection is divided in two parts - and the second is marked 'Für Erwachsenere', from no. 19, 'Kleine Romanze', onwards. 

'Wilder Reiter', or - as it is more commonly referred to, 'The Wild Horseman', is the eight piece of the collection. It is a short and easy, albeit wonderful piece due to its evocative, enthralling composition. It is essentially a lesson in staccato phrasing (one can really imagine the horseman trotting about), and teaches the pianist how to lead the cantabile with both hands, while accompanying with the other. The first section, where the melody is led by the right hand, is repeated. What follows is an intermezzo, if you will, where the left hand leads the melody - an inverse variation on the first section. The piece concludes with a third repetition of the first section. 

I am fascinated by the images that the piece conjures. Is the horseman clad in medieval armour, riding past you in a jousting roundabout? In measures 5 through 8 I deliberately retained some intensity in favour of conveying how the horseman has galloped past the listener (who is of course, stationary), and is making another pass. The second section, measures 9 through 16, seem to indicate the 'wild' in the horseman. Is he perhaps struggling to contain the horse, who has run amok? But then the first section is repeated, and the controlled, frivolous atmosphere reassures and consoles the listener. 

illustration: Géricault - 'Head of White Horse', ca. 1810, Musée du Louvre, Paris

R. Schumann - Wilder Reiter (The Wild Horseman) op. 68 no. 8 in A minor

Cry Me A River - Ella fitzgerald Cover

Recordings of Philharmonia Fall 2014 Concert

Dvorak - Slavonic Dances, Op. 72 - Starodavny: Allegretto grazioso

Violons virtuoses - Virtuosic violon
Interprètes :
Nikki Chooi, violon/violin
Timothy Chooi, violon/violin
Philip Chiu, piano

P.SARASATE Navarra, Opus 33

Beethoven Sonata 8 Opus 13 "Pathetique" 2nd Movement

Voices Of Spring Waltz - Johann Strauss Jr.- Black Tie string quartet

Voices Of Spring Waltz - Johann Strauss Jr.

12 Tchaikovsky - The Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a - Arabian Dance (Coffee)

The Wild Ones - 
Not as wild as they seem - after all, they were 'gallant' - as were the composer.

After all, it was 'the Industry' (- read: the Spanish) that killed them.

Rameau 2

Les Sauvages

Liszt - Mephisto Waltz

C.P.E. Bach: Solfeggietto


My rendition of The Princess Bride song, Storybook love.  Hope you like it!

Written by:  Willy DeVille

FREE Download: http://click.dj/austinparkermusic/storybook-love-princess-bride

Watch on YouTube with lyrics:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BzHJ2vgOLQ



12 Tchaikovsky - The Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a - Arabian Dance (Coffee)

Chris Palmer