Of all the sets of piano music written specifically for young pianists to play, Bartók's For Children is one of the most frequently recorded by professional pianists, either in full or in part. The pieces in the set are easier to play than the even more frequently recorded Album für die Jungend by Schumann, but what appeals to pianists of all levels is the incredible variety of moods that is created so economically and charmingly in these. At their basic essence is a folk melody and simple harmony. Jeno Jandó, well-accomplished as he is, does not play these as a professional tossing off a few trifles, nor does he try to make them sound like there are hidden layers of meaning in them that only a mature artist can see. He gives them an air of innocence, and uncomplicated as they are, still manages to make the most of each one's character. He carefully shades them, plays with dynamics and tempo, so that the different moods are felt immediately and effectively, especially in the slower ones. He rarely gives the impression that he is pretending to be a child playing a short song, but there is also a bit of a sense of nostalgia in his performance, and, a couple of times in faster songs, he could use more of a child's enthusiasm. Jandó's based his recording on the last version of the collection that Bartók edited, so there are 79 pieces, and slightly different ones, instead of the original 85. The pieces are grouped two to four to a track to avoid having a long track break every 30 seconds, with an intimacy to the sound that makes the music that much more endearing.
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