oachim Raff was a largely self-taught composer whose style stands somewhere between the German traditionalism of Schumann and the newer school of Wagner. Raff composed seven Suites for Piano, a form he preferred to the sonata, and this provided him with greater freedom as a composer, resulting in his most substantial contribution to the piano literature. This is reflected in the Mendelssohn-like lyricism of the First Suite; contrasts between Baroque and Romantic styles in the Third Suite, a piece admired by Liszt; and more nationalist inclinations in the memorably melodic Fifth Suite.
Raff, Joachim
 Piano Suite No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 69
1 I. Preludio 01:58
2 II. Mazurka 02:31
3 III. Toccatina 01:23
4 IV. Aria 03:24
5 V. Fuga 01:50
 Piano Suite No. 3 in E Minor, Op. 72
6 I. Preludio 02:30
7 II. Minuetto 02:38
8 III. Toccata 02:03
9 IV. Romanza 04:17
10 V. Fuga 03:51
 Piano Suite No. 5 in G Minor, Op. 162
11 I. Elegie in Sonatenform (Elegy in Sonata Form) 08:40
12 II. Volkslied mit Variationen (Folksong with Variations) 12:46
