The piano series entitled Games, written from 1973 onwards, was conceived originally as a piano method. Its early volumes introduced children to the basic elements in piano-playing and musical thinking, and, more importantly still, taught them to play music without inhibitions.

As the years went by, the view of the series lost its didactic character. It came to be seen as a document from Kurtág's workshop, offering a key to his grander symphonic, chamber and vocal works as well. This change ...