On the occasion of the 200th anniversary of Schumann’s birth audite presents with this re-issue his complete works for pedal piano. “On 24 April [1845] we received a pedal for our piano on hire, which gave us great pleasure. It was primarily intended for practicing organ playing. But Robert soon developed a greater interest in this instrument and composed some sketches and studies for the pedal piano which will certainly be greeted with enthusiasm as something utterly new”, wrote Clara Schumann in her diary. In May 1845 Schumann finished a first group of works for the pedal piano; he wrote: “To be truthful, I am pretty confident in this instrument and feel that, in time, it might bring new impulses to piano music. Wonderful effects can be made with it.” Although this interesting instrumental hybrid was used for example at the Leipzig Conservatory as a practice instrument for organ students, it did not manage to find a permanent place in musical practice. All the works for pedal piano originate in Schumann’s phase of 'fugal passion', as he himself put it, in 1845. They are characterised by a severe style, which also testifies to Schumann’s profound veneration of Johann Sebastian Bach.

Andreas Rothkopf studied piano, organ and conducting at the music conservatoires in Saarbrücken, Cologne and Paris. As an organist, he has received many prizes and awards at national and international competitions.