"that I am also able to write easily"

Even during Raff's lifetime and up to the present day, the number 3 of the Six Morceaux, Cavatina, a popular encores piece. It has been worthwhile making the five other compositions known as Urtext based on the first edition of 1862, with the help of the Joachim Raff Archive in Lachen, which is run by Severin Kolb. As Franz Liszt's assistant, Raff got to know many famous musicians, to whom he dedicated his sophisticated chamber music works. The manuscript of the Six Morceaux he sent to the publisher in 1861 with the words, "(...) that people will reach for these pieces all the sooner than I prove that I am also able to write easily (...)"

The six "salon pieces" are musically extraordinarily rich with harmonic and rhythmic surprises: a lovely "children's" march, a poetically soft Pastoralthe proven Cavatinaa lively Joker in 2/4 time, an emotional Canzona and a PrestoTarantella-rondo with Italian verve. They come close to the Romances by Robert and Clara Schumann. The sparse fingerings - partly by Raff, indicating the playing practice of the time - are in need of additions. A detailed preface describes the history of the composition and the many arrangements and performances by famous violinists. The Critical Report demonstrates the meticulous care taken in this edition and provides helpful advice for interpreters.

Joachim Raff: Six Morceaux for violin and piano op. 85, edited by Stefan Kägi and Severin Kolb, EB 9407, € 28.50, Breitkopf & Härtel, Wiesbaden