Vergessene Weisen

'Forgotten Melodies' — the title Medtner gave to his three cycles Op.38, 39, and 40. The German title was his preferred one; the pieces were published by the German firm Zimmermann. The title implies melodies half-remembered, returning from some past time.

The nostalgic, memory-like quality should permeate the sound throughout these cycles. Even the dances have a quality of looking back rather than forward.