Inner Songs, Vol. 1

The piano collection "Inner Songs" Vol. 1, composed between 1918 and 1920, is a charming collection of short pieces that profoundly express a naive inner world, akin to the melancholy of youth. It is dedicated to his wife, Elena Paris, whom he married in 1920. Each piece is short, typically 1-2 pages, and characterized by a concise score with omitted bar lines and time signatures. The titles (small text on the upper right corner of the score) and keys of each piece are as follows:

• 1. I Found a Withered Flower Again
  Fast. F-sharp minor. A dance piece with striking harmonies of fourths.
• 2. When I Went to the Seaside for a Holiday, the Sky Was Completely Overcast...
  Quietly. C major. Combines a clear-sounding main section centered on fifths with a melancholic middle section in a minor key.
• 3. Tears
  Slowly - intensely. A minor. A long, simple melody is sung over cascading arpeggios.
• 4. I Am Alone and Sad
  Concise. E minor. A delicate melody is sung with deep emotion.
• 5. Lamenting Bitterly
  Slowly, painfully. D minor. A piece with a heavy sound, frequently using seconds.
• 6. Will I Find Solace in Something?
  Anxiously. G-sharp minor. A restlessly wavering ostinato. The middle section becomes an elegy.
• 7. I Forgave You
  Slowly, painfully. A minor. Dotted rhythms express a heavy heart. The coda reaches forte, and the piece concludes by fading into A major, conveying a sense of salvation.
• 8. Mother Sings, the Cradle Rocks
  Peacefully. C major. The entire suite concludes gently, carried by the swaying rhythm of a Siciliana.