ROBERT SCHUMANN (1810-1856): 12 vierhändige Clavierstücke für kleine und große Kinder, Op. 85 (Eric Le Sage, Frank Braley [piano four hands]), Ball Scenen, Op. 109, Kinderball, Op. 130 (Le Sage, Denis Pascal [piano four hands]), Album für die Jugend, Op. 68 (Le Sage).

Description: Amazingly, there is still unusual Schumann to be found. None of the three four-hand works on the first disc of this set (part of an ongoing Schumann chamber music series from which we'll pick rare repertoire) is otherwise available on disc: the Clavierstücke of 1849, written "for" rather than "about" children, nevertheless contain many happy echoes of such early works as Kinderszenen, while the two other cycles (1851 and 1853) are dance-music cycles of nine and six pieces respectively. Schumann completists will not want to be without them. 2 CDs.