Preludes Op. 9

(Schott). To this day Theodor Kirchner (1823-1904) has failed to gain the recognition he deserves. A friend of Johannes Brahms and Clara Schumann, the artist has been labelled a mere follower of Schumann. His demanding yet never superficially virtuosic music for piano displays an highly individual range of tender lyrical sentiments. Kirchner's writing already hints at the approaching revolution of High and Late Romantik, thus pointing in the direction of Scriabin and Max Reger (the latter greatly idolized by Kirchner). Edited by Klaus Wolters.