Serenade in A

Charles Rosen is not alone in considering the Serenade the "loveliest" of Stravinsky's solo piano works. Its origin was utilitarian: during his first American tour in 1925, Stravinsky was contracted to record some of his music. He decided to write a piano suite each movement of which would fit a single 78 rpm side – a maximum of three minutes.

Repertoire note by Joseph Horowitz