Tchaikovsky sub-titled this collection, first published in 1878, ‘24 easy pieces (à la Schumann)’. Like his predecessor, Tchaikovsky had the innate ability of writing for young people without writing down to them, as illustrated here with this set of charming and characteristic miniatures

Contents

• A l’eglise (In church), Op. 39 No. 23 (published as No. 24)
• Chanson allemande (German song), Op. 39 No. 17
• Chanson italienne (Italian song), Op. 39 No. 15
• Chanson napolitaine (Neopolitan song), Op. 39 No. 18
• Chanson populaire (Folksong) (Kamarinskaya), Op. 39 No. 14 (published as No. 13)
• Chanson russe (Russian song), Op. 39 No. 12 (published as No. 11)
• Chant de l’alouette (Song of the lark), Op. 39 No. 22
• Conte de la vieille bonne (The old nurse’s tale), Op. 39 No. 19
• Douce reverie (Daydream), Op. 39 No. 21
• Enterrement de la poupée (The doll’s funeral), Op. 39 No. 8 (published as No. 7)
• L’orgue de barberie (The barrel-organ), Op. 39 No. 24 (published as No. 23)
• La nouvelle poupée (The new doll), Op. 39 No. 6 (published as No. 9)
• La poupée malade (The sick doll), Op. 39 No. 7 (published as No. 6)
• La sorciere (The witch) (Baba Yaga), Op. 39 No. 20
• Le matin en hiver (Winter morning), Op. 39 No. 2
• Le paysan prelude (The peasant’s prelude), Op. 39 No. 13 (published as No. 12)
• Le petit cavalier (The hobby-horse), Op. 39 No. 4 (published as No. 3)
• Maman (Mamma), Op. 39 No. 3 (published as No. 4)
• Marche des soldats de bois (March of the wooden soldiers), Op. 39 No. 5
• Mazurka, Op. 39 No. 11 (published as No. 10)
• Old French Song, No. 16 from Album for the Young, Op. 39
• Polka, Op. 39 No. 10 (published as No. 14)
• Priere du matin (Morning prayer), Op. 39 No. 1
• Valse (Waltz), Op. 39 No. 9 (published as No. 8)