Fünf Bagatellen

'What do these bagatelles want, what are they supposed to do? As a matter of fact, only that they are played as well as possible and that they are listened to as well as possible. They want to be good music, they want to amuse both the pianist and the listener and carry them away from everyday life, they are a shared experience. However, the pianist has to practise them first and the listener not, which is unfair. On the other hand, the listener does not get any applause, but the pianist does – so it evens out.'