The first major work to fall from Enescu's pen during the war years, Impressions d'enfance is a partly autobiographical suite of ten evocative miniatures stemming from the composer's earliest memories. As such it is among the more obviously programmatic of his works and in this respect bears broad similarities to the Third Orchestral Suite. It is a Romantic and sweeping piece reminiscent in places of the works of Eugene Ysaye and of Karol Szymanowski's Mythes. Enormously expressive in a reflective sort of way, it is not as overtly Romanian as some of the works written at the same period but nonetheless has unmistakably national roots.

This is a technically demanding piece, since the structure and the flow of the music build over time to a sophisticated view of the world, albeit through the wide eyed innocence of youth. Huge demands are placed on the violinist since Enescu requires mimicry and imitative playing of the highest order, ranging from wind and storm noises through birdsong and cuckoo clock sounds! The piece is but little known today, which is a shame, since we have thus lost what could once more be a wildly popular showcase for violin virtuosi.

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