The yof Romantic Piano

aedkito-nienniediaegadies
A unique collection
of appealing solo pieces in their original forms,
ng many rare works from the 19th and early 20th centuries.
SELECTED AND EDITED BY DENES AGAY
Yorktown Music Press, Inc.
The JoyofRomantic Piano
BookOne:early-to-intermediate grades

Selected and edited by Denes Agay

The piano literature of the Romantic period (the 19th century) is by far the
richest of all musical eras. Never before or after has there been such a vast amount
of music written for a solo instrument. The reason for this abundance is due mainly
to the fact that it was during the 19th century that the piano developed from its
modest classical beginnings into the large, sturdy, expressive instrument we know
today-an instrument with a wide dynamic range and a dazzling palette of colors,
well suited for the ideals of Romanticism: the venting of innermost feelings and
emotional nuances.
The inherent expressive capabilities of the piano deeply influenced and inspired
composers of the period; not only such great masters as Schubert, Schumann,
Chopin, Mendelssohn and Liszt, but many others, who with varying degrees of
creative power supplied a steady flow of materials for study, performance and
home entertainment. A good portion of this repertory was steeped in mediocrity,
or worse, and was subsequently banished to oblivion by the more selective and
often neo-classical musical attitudes of the 20th century. Regrettably however, this
critical condemnation was all too sweeping and indiscriminate. For the past decade
or so, a more sympathetic scrutiny of Romantic piano music has begun to reveal
that, together with the chaff, a great deal of worthy, valuable material was also
swept away, buried and forgotten. One of the purposes of this publication is to
somewhat remedy this state of affairs.
The two volumes of The Joy of Romantic Piano explore the colorful bypaths of
Romantic piano literature and present a graded repertory of unduly neglected,
charming and effective piano works from the 19th and early 20th century. The
revival of interest in these long-neglected miniatures is entirely justified. While light,
melodic and instantaneously appealing, each of them possesses a certain inherent
musical quality, a distinctive musical profile which conveys a respectable degree of
imagination, inventiveness and craftsmanship on the part of the writers. We trust
that students, teachers and pianists of all descriptions will find this addition to'
Romantic piano repertory fresh, entertaining and useful.
Denes Agay

1976 Yorktown Music Press Inc.

All Rights Reserved

Distributed throughout the world by Music Sales

24 East 22nd Street, New York, N.Y. 10010, U.S.A.
78 Newman Street, London WIP 3LA.
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Printed in Austria
 Contents
Flying-(Ukranian Folk Song) 31 Canzonetta
3 The Cranes Are
Anton Diabelli
Anton Arensky
3 Cradle Song
32 A Little Story-Op. 27, No. 9
Robert Volkmann
Eduard Horak
33 Elegy-Op. 81, No. 3
4 Brave Knight
Nicolai von Wilm
Moritz Vogel
117, No. 10 34 Catch Me!-Op. 55, No. 23
4 The Hunters' Song-Op.
Cornelius Gurlitt Theodor Kirchner
35 Bagatelle Hongroise
5 Bear Dance-from the sketch bonk for
Kalmán Chován
"Album For The Young", Op. 68
Robert Schumann 36 Forgotten Fairy Tale- "Sung Outside The Prince's Doo
Op. 4, No. 1
or.
6 Church Bells
Edward MacDowell
Matthew Camidge
7 Song Without Words-Op. 183, No. 1
38 Capriccietto-from "Morceaux Enfantins, " Op. 77, No. 4
Carl Reinecke Szidor Bátor

8 Spring Song-(The Pussy-Willow) 39 Prayer

Alexander Gretchaninoff Robert Fuchs

8 Folk Ballad 40 The Italian Pipers

Béla Bartók "Pifferari"
Charles Gounod
9 Chansonette
Franz Lachner 42 Rigaudon
Charles-Valentin Alkan
10 Scherzo-Op. 55, No. 1
Ignaz Moscheles 44 Shepherds' Dance-Op. 77, No. 11
Heinrich Hofmann
12 Little Italian Serenade -from "Youth Album"
Arnoldo Sartorio 45 Requiem For A Little Bird
Gustave Sandré
14 Mazurka
Maria Szymanowska 46 Love Song-Op. 16, No. 3
Wilhelm Taubert
15 Christmas Present
Vladimir Rebikov 47 Roman tic Sonatina-Op. 248, No. 2, First Movement
Jacob Schmitt
16 Novelette
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov 50 Valsette--Op. 40, No. 1
Jan Sibelius
17 Ecossaise
Jozef Kozlowsky 51 Rondeau Bohemienne
Franz Lauska
18 Marche Miniature
Charles Mayer 54 Happy Moments
Nikolai Ladoukin
19 Valse Sentimentale--Op. 50, No. 31
Franz Schubert 55 Notturnino-from "Album For The Young"
Marco Enrico Bossi
20 Barcarolle
Alexander Goedicke 58 Album Leaf-from "Three Album Ieaves"
Niels W. Gade
21 Quiet Morning
Samuel Maykapar 60 Scherzo Allemande
Carl Maria von Weber
22 Dance of The Dragonflies
Eduard Rohde 61 Grandmother's Waltz-Op. 109, No. 7

23 Prelude-Op. 2, No. 4 Alexander Gretehaninoff

Georges Bizet 64 Preludium-Op. 8 No. 1
24 For Natalie Henryk Pachulsky
Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky 66 Remembrance Waltz
26 Romanze John Field
Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy 68 Morning Diversion
27 Cock-a-Doodle Waltz--Op. 243, No. 26 Zdenko Fibich
Louis Köhler
69
Cinderella" Rondo-on the aria "Non Più Mesta
28 Prelude from the opera La Cenerentola by Rossini
Lev Gurilev François Hünten
29 Norwegian Folk Lullaby-Op. 66, No. 19 74 La Danse -from "Les Amusenmenis de Ferkó, "Op., 41, Na
Edvard Grieg
Albert Siklós

l
30 Etude Mélancolique -Op. 125, No. 2 76 Puppet Mareh-from "Humoreske Bagatellen, "Op.
Stephen Heler Carl Nielsen
 3

The Cranes Are Flying

Ukranian Folk Song)

Anton Arensky
Moderato

Cradle Song

Eduard Horak
Andantino

PP
 Brave Knight

Moritz Vogel

Moderato. con forza

The Hunters' Song

Op. 117, No. 10
Cornelius Gurlitt
Con moto

cresc.

a tempo
 5

Bear Dance
The Young," Op.
from the sketch book for "Album For
68

Allegretto pesante Robert Schumann

8--

mf

8--

Fine

8-

D C al Fine
writhout repetilion)
6
Church Bells

Matthew Camidge

Moderato

| mf

IL

mf

mp dim.
 Song Without Words
Op. 183, No. 1

Carl Reinecke
Andante con moto

dolce

m
 Spring Song
(The Pussy-Willow)

Alexander Gretchaninoff

Moderato

P-

Folk Ballad
Béla Bartók
Freely moving

mf parlando

Cb

DCad
 9

Chansonette

Franz Lachner
Larghetto con sentimento

ped. simile

it. a tempo

mf

ri
poco

dim.
10

Scherzo
Op. 55, No. 1

Ignaz Moscheles
Allegro

cresc.

onf
 11

dim.

dolce

cresc.

PP

cresc.
12

Little from
Italian Serenade
"Youth Album"

Arnoldo Sartorio
Poco an imato

m
 2
ritenuto

a tempo

poco riten.

Lento

Pp
14

Mazurka

Maria Szymanowska
Moderato

Fine

D. C. al Fine
 15

Christmas Present

Vladimir Rebikov
Allegretto 2

cresc.

m
16
Novelette

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

Allegretto mosso e grazios0

cresc.

Fine
f
 17

cresc.

poco
rit

D C. al Fine

Ecossaise
Edited by Denes Agay
Jozef Koslowsky

2
18

Marche Miniature
Charles Mayer

Moderato, misterioso

np

cresc.

cresc.

dim
mf

mp
 9

cresc.

dim.
PP

Valse Sentimentale
Op. 50, No. 31

Franz Schubert

132

cresc.
20

Barcarolle

Alexander Goedicke

Andantino

cresc

cresc.

cresc. cresc.

P
 21

Quiet Morning

Samuel Maykapar

Andantino

P dolce e tranguillo

mp

8-

PP piu dolce PHP

22

Dance Of The Dragonflies

Eduard Rohde

Anim a to

mp cresc.

cresc.
P

E
 23

=
Prelude
Op. 2, No. 4
Georges Bizet

Allegretto

>f A

cresc.
24

For Natalie

Peter llyich
Tehaikovsky

Tempo di Valse

amoroso

cresc.

Con passione e gelosia

mf

J
5
con ped.
* Lower notes of the octaves may he omitted.
 25

tie11tinttttie1

mf

pamoroso

ritenuto

2
26

Romanze

Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy

Andante

PP
 21

Cock-a-Doodle-Waltz
Op. 243, No. 26

Alegretto giocoso
Louis Köhler
3

8-

mp
7mp

8--

Fine
mf

D C al Fine
 Prelude

Lev Gurile
Andantino cantabile

dolce

43

t
accelerando
2 (a tempo)

cresc

a llargando

25
 29

Norwegian Folk Lullaby

Op. 66, No. 19

Edvard Grieg
Allegretto semplice

PP

Pp

ritard.
30

Éude Melancolique
Op. 125. No. 2

Stephen Heller

Moderato d=108)

P con espressione

dimin.

riten. (a tempo 3

P Fine

cresc.
 31

rinf.

D. C al Fine

X Canzonetta
Anton Diabelli
Andantino

32
cresc.
PP

Cresc.
PP
32

A Little Story
27, No. 9
Op.

Robert Volkmann

D
Commodo

mp PP m

1 2 1

cresc.

lay be repeated from

 33

Elegy
Op. 81, No. 3

Nicolai von Wilm

Lente

cresc
dim.

cresc. cresc.

cresc.

cresc. dim. dim.

34

Catch Me!
Op. 55, No. 23

Theodor
Kirchner
Vivace

mf

rit. (a tempo)

mf

rit. (a tempo)

r.h.
5
2
 35

Bagatelle Hongroise

Kálmán Chován

Allegretto (=92)

amabile
P

poco rit.

cresc.

ru.

dim.
36

Forgotten Fairy Tale

Door," Op. 4, No.
1
"Sung Outside The Prince's

Edward MacDowell

Softly, w istfully

Con ped.

Pleadingly
5

Pbass prominent

*Originally in major
 37

retard

in time

I.h

retard
38

Capriccietto
tins," Op. 77, No. 4
from "Morceaux Enfan

Szidor Bátor

Allegretto
 39

dim. PP

Prayer
Robert Fuchs
Lento

legato
P

cresc. mf
40

The Italian Pipers

"Pifferari"

Charles Gounod

Allegro

Sempre marcato

mp
 41

cresc.

dim.

PPP
42

Rigaudon
Charles-Valentin
Alkan

Vivace d= 84)

gaily

21

2
1

2
mf
 43

sempre mf

cresc -

W 2

mf

(1)

mf
44

Shepherds' Dance
Op. 77, No. 11

Heinrich Hofmann

Andantino

mf

mf cresc. dim.

2
m
 45

Requiem For A Little Bird

Adagio Gustave Sandre

mp

riten.

nf PP
A6

Love Song
Op. 16, No. 3

Wilhelm Taubert

Sostenuto e con molto espressione

con ped.
 47

Romantic Sonatina
Op. 248, No. 2, First Movement

Jacob Schmitt
(d=92)
Allegretto

cresc.

EEE
48

dole

31 2
cresc.

5 poco rit.
3

dim
 49

cresc.

cresc.

Coda

espress. 5
50

Valsette
Op. 40, No. 1

Jan Sibelius
Moderato

mp

21
EE
432

L
poco ritenuto
a tempo

mp
PP

L
ri
poco. largo

3
a tempo
i
 51

Rondeau Bohemienne

Franz Lauska
Allegretto

Cresc..

dim.
52

PP

mp)
mf

2 3

poco
ri.

dim.
 53
tempo
a

12

1
3 1

f
54

Happy Moments

Nikolai Ladoukin

Allegretto

teneteskt
rit. a tempo

ril.

a tempo
ri.

( crescendo
dim.
 55
tempo
a

Notturnino
from "Album For The Young"
Allegretto cantabile MarcoEnrico Bossi

mp

Con ped.
56
 57

eaaatiattiatt

P
58

Album Leaf
from "Three Album Leaves"

Niels W. Gade

Andantino cantabile

PP

sempre ped.

ril.
atempo
 camtabile
59

dole

PP

PP

e :
60

Scherzo Allemande

Carl Maria von Weber

Allegretto

mf

cresc.
Fine

Trio

14
3
 61

D. CC
al Fine

Grandmother's Waltz
Op. 109. No. 7

Moderato Alexander Gretchaninoff

mf

(P)
62
rall a tempo. poco rubato

P)

rall. tempo

mf)

4
 63

rall.
tempo

rall.

(dim.) (P)
64

Preludium
Op. 8.No.I

Henryk Pachulsky
Andante molto =54)

cresc.

un poco piu agitato

dim.
 Tempo I 65
riten.

PI

piu lento
riten.
66

Remembrance Waltz

John Field

Andantino grazioso

dolce

Fine mf
 61

dolce 2

cresc

D CC
al Fine
68

Morning Diversion
Zdenko Fibich

Poco allegretto

PP
PP

mf

(
riten. (a tempo)

P PP
 69

"Cinderella" Rondo
on the aria "Non Più Mesta" from the opera La Cenerentola
by Rossini

Francois Hünten
Moderato

energico

cresc

Allegretto
2
23

b adhátiaAt
T
dolce
70

con fuoco
3 21321

dolce

Cresc

E
 71

cresc.

cresc.

dimin.

2
dolce
72

(stacc.)

cresc.

dolce

(resc. --
 73

Cresc-

8--

cresc.

8--
14

La Danse
from "Les Amusements de Ferko," Op. 41, No.
2

Albert Siklós
Tempo di Valse ril. a lempo

cresc.

mf

resc
 15

decresc.

ritard. a tempo

PP

P Cresc.

decresc.
16

Puppet March
from "Humoreske-Bagatellen," Op. 11

Carl Nielsen
Allegro moderato

mf mf

mf
 7

-P

P
mf dim.

PPP

3 2
78
About the Composers
Alkan, Charles-Valentin (1813-1888)
French composer, belonged to the circle of
Chopin. His piano music is most effective and
shows a great deal of hamonic originality.
Arensky, Anton Stepanovich (1861-1906)
Russian composer, a pupil of Rimsky-Korsakov,
who, however, was more influenced by Tchaikov-
sky's melodic lyricism. An inventive writer and
fine çraftsman, especially in the smaller forms.
Bartók, Béla (1881-1945)
Hungarian composer ofstrong nationalistic roots.
Outstanding master of the 20th century. The
melody in this volume is from his first collection
of Hungarian folk songs.
Bátor, Szidor (1860-1929)
Hungarian composer and teacher. His tasteful,
inventive piano miniatures, very popular in his
time, deserve renewed attention.
Bizet, Georges (1838-1875)
French composer of operas (Carmen, The Pearl
Fishers, and others). Was a fine pianist and in his
youth wrote numerous pieces for the piano. His
now famous Symphony in C was written at the
age of eighteen.
Bossi, Marco Enrico (1861-1925)
Italian composer, organist and teacher; director
of conservatories in Naples, Venice and Bologna.
Wrote many appealing works for organ and piano.
Camidge, Matthew (1764-1844)
English organist, composer and pedagogue. In
addition to vocal church music he wrote piano
sonatas and smaller keyboard pieces.
Chován, Kálmán (1852-1928)
Hungarian composer and pedagogue; director of
teacher training at the Budapest Conservatory.
Wrote many pleasing works and also a widely
utsed piano method. (The name is pronounced
Khován.)
Diabelli, Anton (1781-1858)
Austrian composer and music publisher of Italian
descent. His many educational piano works enjoy
undiminished popularity.
Fibich, Zdenko (1850-1900)
Czech composer, a student of Moscheles, whose
works, large and small, show a remarkable degree
of originality in harmonies and dynamics.
Field, John (1 782-1837)
Irish composer-pianist, a pupil of Clementi, who
began concertizing at the age of ten. An impor-
tant figure of the early Romantic era. His noc-
turnes, sonatas and concertos were of great in
fluence on Chopin.
Fuchs, Robert (1847-1927)
Austrian composer, pedagogue, and professor at
the Vienna Conservatory. A consistently inven-
tive, erudite writer, especially in the smaller
forms.
Gade, Niels Wilhelm (1817-1890)
Danish composer, highly regarded by Schumann.
His works represent an appealing blend of
Mendelssohnian and Danish folk influences.
Goedicke, Alexander (1877-1957)
Russian composer and teacher; studied with
Arensky and Ladoukin. His works show Western
rather than Russian influences. His smaller piano
pieces are both charming and instructive.
Gounod, Charles (1818-1893)
French composer whose fame rests on his very
popular operas (Faust, Romeo and Juliet, and
others) but who also wrote many other inspired
and charming works for various media (songs,
masses, and piano pieces).
Gretchaninoff, Alexander (1864-1956)
Russian composer, a pupil of Arensky, who set-
tled in the U.S. toward the end of his life. Wrote
church music, many songs, and much excellent
piano music for children.
Grie Edvard (1843-1907)
Norwegian composer, whose works are deeply
steeped in the folk music of his people. Appealing
melodies, individualistic harmonies are the secret
of his undiminished popularity.

Gurilev, Lev (1 782-1844)
Russian composer who rose from serfdom to be-
come an important musician of his native land.
His son, also a composer, wrote many popular
songs.
Gurlitt, Cornelius (1820-1901)
German pedagogue and composer of many fine
instructive piano pieces. Was organist in the
Altona cathedral and teacher at the Hamburg
conservatory.
Heller, Stephen (1814-1888)
Hungarian-born composer who lived through
most of his life in Paris. Was a friend of Schu-
mann, Chopin and Liszt; wrote exclusively for
the piano, mostly in the smaller forms, with
harmonic inventiveness and an intimate, poetic
feeling.
Hofmann, Heinrich (1842-1902)
Geman composer, pianist and teacher; wrote
operas, orchestral and choral pieces, but is known
today through his many finely drawn. poetic
piano miniatures.
Horak, Eduard (1838-1892)
Czech pedagogue and composer; a founder, with
his brother, of the famous Horak Piano Conser-
vatory in Vienna. Wrote many tasteful teaching
pieces.
Hünten, François (1793-1878)
Geman pianist-composer. Lived in Paris as a
highly sucessful teacher; wrote many effective
pieces and transcriptions for piano.
Kirchner, Theodor (1823-1903)
German composer, organist and teacher. His well-
fomed, colorful small piano pieces, although
strongly influenced by Schumann, have a distinc-
tion of their own.
Köhler, Louis (1820-1886)
Geman composer and pedagogue. Made a valu-
able contribution to the piano teaching literature
from both a musical and an instructive viewpoint.
Kozlowsky, Jozef (1757-1831)
Polish composer, verypopular in his lifetime. Was
music director of the Czar's court at St. Peters-
burg. Wrote works for the church and the stage,
and many smaller piano pieces in the dance
idiom.
79
Lachner, Franz (1803-1890)
German composer and conductor. Wrote orator
ios, operas, symphonies and smaller piano pieces.
Was an intimate friend of Schubert.
Ladoukin, Nikolai (1860-?)
Russian composer of orchestral and chamber
works, songs and piano pieces. A forerunner
of the conservative 20th century style of Kaba-
levsky
Lauska, Franz (1764-1825)
Czech composer of many popular sonatas and
smaller piano pieces. Settled in Germany and
became a highly respected teacher; one of his
students was Meyerbeer.
MacDowell, Edward (1861-1908)
American composer of Irish descent who studied
in Europe and was deeply influenced by German
Romanticism: there are also traces of American
and Indian folklore in his works. Creator of many
delightful piano pieces, which reflect his consid-
erable stature better than his more pretentious
works.
Mayer, Charles (1 799-1862)
German pianist and composer, a pupil of Field.
Concertized all over Europe and wrote many
pieces for piano. One of his Mazurkas was for a
long time considered to be a work of Chopin.
Maykapar, Samuel (1867-1938)
Russian composer, pianist and teacher, and a
piano student of Leschetizky. Wrote only piano
pieces; his easy miniatures are especially attrac
tive.
Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Felix (1809-1847)
Composer, pianist, conductor;a leader of musical
Germany in mid-nineteenth century. Wrote much
piano music of romantic charm and classical
clarity of form.
Moscheles, Ignaz (1794-1870)
German pianist, composer and pedagogue. Most
of his works are for piano, finely structured, ele-
gant, truly romantic. A protegé of Beethoven,
teacher and close friend of Mendelssohn.
Nielsen, Carl (1865-1931)
Danish composer, conductor, a pupil of Gade. A
transitional figure, being an important 20th cen
tury symphonist with deep roots in the Romantic
era.
80
Pachulsky, Henryk(1859-1921)
Polish composer and teacher; professor at the
Moscow Conservatory. Wrote mostly for piano
in a sympathetic lyric vein and with a solid sense
of form: strongly influenced by Chopin.
Rebikov, VIladimir Ivanovich (1866-1920)
Russian composer; late Romantic whose many
small piano pieces have a distinctive charm
through his personally flavored harmonies and
pictorial ideas.
Reinecke, Carl (1824-1910)
German composer, conductor, teacher and pian-
ist; director of the Conservatory in Leipzig. In
addition to his larger works for orchestra, chorus
and the stage, he wrote many excellent instruc-
tive piano pieces steeped in Mendelssohnian
lyricism.
Rimsky-Korsakov, Nikolai (1844-1908)
Prominent figure of 19th century Russian music;
wrote mostly operas and orchestral works, deeply
influenced by melodies of his native land and the
Orient. Was professor of composition at the St.
Petersburg Conservatory.
Rohde, Eduard (1828-1883)
German composer and teacher. Wrote many in-
strumental and vocal works. His simple, short
piano teaching pieces are still interesting and
valuable.
Sandre, Gustave (1843-1916)
French composer; wrote songs, piano and cham-
ber music works. A writer of taste and imagina
tion even in the smallest forms.
Sartorio, Arnoldo (1853-?)
Geman composer, conductor and teacher. Has
written many instructive piano pieces and also
a piano method used in many countries.
Schmitt, Jacob (1803-1853)
German piano pedagogue and composer. Wrote
many works for piano of which especially his
melodic, well-formed sonatinas withstood the
test of time.
Schubert, Franz (1797-1828)
Austrian master of Romantic composition, one
of the great melodists of all time. Unequalled as
a composer of songs, he left as well, much super-
lative piano music.
Printing No5.6.7.8.9
Schumann, Robert (1810-1856)
Leading German composer of marked originality
and highest artistic integrity. Was also the most
influential critic of the Romantic era with deep
influence on the writers of his time.
Sibelius, Jan (1865-1957)
Finnish composer of strong nationalistic leanings.
Best known for his large-scale symphonic works,
he also wrote numerous smaller piano pieces im-
bued with an attractive, intimate lyricism.
Siklós, Albert (1878-1942)
Hungarian composer and musicologist; for many
years professor of composition at the Conser-
vatory in Budapest. A writer of flawless crafts
manship, taste and erudition.
Szymanowska. Maria (1790-1832)
Polish piano virtuoso and composer, a pupil of
Field. She was admired and acclaimed all over
Europe not only for her playing but also for her
striking beauty. Her piano pieces, said Schumann,
have "delicate azure wings . . . that no
.
one
should touch roughly."
aubert, Wilhelm (1811-1891)
German composer, pianist and conductor; wrote
operas, songs, and piano pieces which were highly
regarded by Mendelssohn.
Tchaikovsky, Peter Ilyich (1840-1893)
An ever-present beguiling melodic quality distin-
guishes the works, large and small, of this Russian
master. In spite of incessant critical barbs, his
operas, ballets, symphonies and concertos remain
as popular as ever.
Vogel, Moritz (1846-1922)
German piano pedagogue and composer of many
attractive teaching pieces. He also wrote a piano
method and numerous works on theory.
Volkmann, Robert (1815-1883)
Geman composer who settled in Hungary. All
his works, artfully conceived, have an appealing
lyric charm and simplicity.
Weber, Carl Maria von (1786-1826)
His works, especially his operas, are a cornerstone
of German Romanticism. Much of his fine piano
music is in dance forms, and has a tuneful, roman
tic exuberance.
Wilm, Nicolai von (1834-1911)
German pianist, composer and conductor, known
mostly for his chamber music and piano works.