Tchaikovksy Kinderalbum for String Quintet

In a letter to Nadezhda F. von Meck dated 30 April 1878, Tchaikovsky wrote:
“Tomorrow I will begin a collection of miniature pieces for children. For some time I have been thinking that it would be good to contribute, to the best of my abilities, to the enrichment of the musical literature for children which is very poor. I want to write a whole series of really easy little pieces with titles to attract children as Schumann did.”


Peer Baierlein chose 12 easy pieces of this collection and arranged them for a string ensemble of two violins, viola, cello and double bass. He assigns different functions to the respective instruments: one instrument takes over the melody, another the rhythm, the other three the harmony voices.


These pieces with a learning effect are fun, encourage interaction and are therefore ideal for teaching and student concerts.


All parts can be retrieved for free via download link.

Morning Prayer (Morgengebet)
Winter Morning (Wintermorgen)
Mummy (Mama)
Hobbyhorse (Pferdchenspiel)
The Wooden Soldier's March (Marsch der Holzsoldaten)
The New Doll (Die neue Puppe)
The Doll's Illness (Die Krankheit der Puppe)
The Doll's Funeral (Das Begrabnis der Puppe)
Waltz (Walzer)
Polka
Mazurka
Russian Song (Russisches Lied)