Two Fairy Tales, Op. 8

Medtner's Op. 8 contains two early Skazki ("Fairy Tales"), a genre he would make uniquely his own throughout his career. Written when he was in his mid-twenties, these pieces already display many hallmarks of his mature style: rich lyricism, motivic development, and a narrative quality that suggests a story without describing a specific program. The set was composed in 1904–05 and dedicated to his parents.