Schumann: Arrangements for Piano Duet, Vol. 1

Piano arrangements were the main way for people to become acquainted with concert repertoire in Schumann’s day, and publishers ensured that the huge demand for such versions was met. Otto Dresel’s arrangement of the String Quartet, Op. 41, No. 3 was approved by the composer. Clara Schumann was dedicatee and soloist for the Piano Quintet, Op. 44, and she was able to draw on her intimate knowledge of her husband’s work to make her own highly effective arrangement. This is the first of seven volumes including Schumann’s entire orchestral works arranged for piano duet.

 "Sitting side by side must come naturally to the Eckerle Piano Duo…Naxos’s Brahms discs were entrusted to Silke Thora-Matthies and Christian Köhn, who achieved the most professional results. The Eckerles are similarly polished and, if anything, more imaginative, although there’s an air of comfortable domesticity to these performances that suits these arrangements well. This is not wild Schumann, but especially in the String Quartet No. 3, it’s Schumann the devoted husband and father. It’s charming, affectionate stuff. Perhaps this is “only” a curiosity, but it’s extremely well done, and I will be looking forward to subsequent volumes, which I believe will include arrangements of all four symphonies." --Fanfare, March 2013

"The wonderful disc is the first of a seven-volume series that will include all of Schumann’s orchestral works arranged for piano duet.Based on the Eckerle’s musical playing and perfect ensemble, this is a notable first volume and will keep me on the lookout for more in the series. The duet version is commendable in its handling of many voices that lie on top of each other. All told, we have a great beginning to a series that I will watch for in the future." --American Record Guide, March 2013