To this day Theodor Kirchner (1823-1904) has failed to gain the recognition he deserves. A friend of Johannes Brahms and Clara Schumann, the artist has been labelled a mere follower of Schumann. His demanding yet never superficially virtuosic music for piano displays an highly individual range of tender lyrical sentiments. Kirchner's writing already hints at the approaching revolution of High and Late Romantik, thus pointing in the direction of Scriabin and Max Reger (the latter greatly idolized by Kirchner).

The composer Johanna Senfter (1879-1961) studied with Max Reger in Leipzig from 1908 to 1910 and on graduation won the Arthur Nikisch award. She valued Reger greatly and a life-long friendship ensued. A freelance composer, she continued to live in Oppenheim / Rhein. Her substantial oeuvre remains largely unpublished. The present volume introduces the most beautiful of J. Senfter's works for piano. Most of these pieces are available on the WERGO-CD WER 6264-2.