Gurlitt, Cornelius : Album für die Jugend Der kleine Wanderer
Work Overview
Genre:for children
Copyright:Public Domain
Commentary (1)
Author : Kumamoto, Ryohei
Last Updated: May 30, 2025
[Open]
Author : Kumamoto, Ryohei
The principal key is G major. In this work, section a (measures 1-16) and a short section b (measures 17-24), which partially modulates to D major, form one large section. This large section is repeated identically, and finally, section a is recapitulated by a Da Capo, bringing the piece to a close. This can be represented using repeat signs as follows:
||: a+b :||+a
Although section a, recapitulated by the final Da Capo, resembles a coda, the overall flow of the sections (a+b+a) leads to its interpretation as a ternary form.
In the opening theme, a stepwise progression of D to D# is observed in the left hand. This D# is essentially a passing tone, and by understanding it as leading to the E in the next measure, one can perceive a chromatic ascending line of D→D#→E. This movement is characteristic, and similarly, in measure 13, a chromatic ascending line of G→G#→A can be observed in the upper voice.
While section a does not feature significant registral movement, section b utilizes a wider range through the smooth motion of descending scales, primarily in eighth notes.