Études (Chopin)
The Études by Frédéric Chopin are three sets of études for the piano published during the 1830s. There are twenty-seven compositions overall, comprising two separate collections of twelve, numbered Op. 10 and Op. 25, and a set of three without opus number.
History
Composition
Chopin's Études formed the foundation for what was then a revolutionary playing style for the piano. They are some of the most challenging and evocative pieces of all the works in concert piano repertoire. Because of this, the music remains popular and often performed in both concert and private stages. Some are so popular they have been given nicknames; arguably the most popular of all is Op. 10, No. 3, sometimes identified by the names "Tristesse" or "Farewell", as well as the "Revolutionary Étude". No nicknames are of Chopin's original creation.All twenty-seven études were published during Chopin's lifetime; Op. 10, the first group of twelve, were composed between 1829 and 1832, and were published in 1833, in France, Germany, and England. The twelve études of Op. 25 were composed at various times between 1832 and 1835, and were published in the same countries in 1837. The final three, part of a series called Méthode des méthodes de piano compiled by Ignaz Moscheles and François-Joseph Fétis, were composed in 1839, without an assigned opus number. They appeared in Germany and France in November 1840, and England in January 1841. Accompanying copies of these important early editions, there are usually several manuscripts of a single étude in Chopin's own hand, and additional copies made by his close friend, Jules Fontana, along with editions of Karol Mikuli, Chopin's student.
The first études of the Opus 10 set were written when Chopin was still in his teens. They rank alongside the early works of Felix Mendelssohn as rare examples of extremely youthful compositions that are regarded as both innovative and worthy of inclusion in the standard canon. Chopin's études elevated the musical form from purely utilitarian exercises to great artistic masterpieces.
Impact
Although sets of exercises for piano had been common from the end of the 18th century, Chopin's Études not only presented an entirely new set of technical challenges, but were the first to become a regular part of the concert repertoire. His études combine musical substance and technical challenge to form a complete artistic form. They are often held in high regard as the product of mastery of combining the two. His effect on contemporaries such as Franz Liszt was apparent, based on the revision Liszt made to his series of concert études after meeting Chopin. Contemporary Polish musicologist Tadeusz A. Zielinski wrote, on Op. 10, that "not only did they become an orderly demonstration of a new piano style and the formulas peculiar to it, but also an artistic ennoblement of this style."Chopin's Études are not without modern influence as well. Several of the études have lodged themselves in popular music, movies, or television shows.
List of Études
Études Op. 10
The first set of Études was published in 1833. Chopin was twenty-three years old and already famous as a composer and pianist in the salons of Paris, where he made the acquaintance of Franz Liszt. Subsequently, Chopin dedicated the entire opus to him – "à mon ami Franz Liszt".The etudes 8,9,10 and 11 dating from October/November 1829, No. 5 and 6 probably from summer 1830, No. 1 and 2 November 2, 1830, No. 12 September 1831, No. 7 spring 1832,
No. 4 August 6, 1832 and No. 3 August 25, 1832 .
| Opus number | Key | Incipit | Audio |
| Étude Op. 10, No. 1 | C major | \new PianoStaff << \new Staff = "Up" << \new Voice \relative c' \new Voice \relative c' >> \new Staff = "Down" \relative c >> | |
| Étude Op. 10, No. 2 | A minor | \new PianoStaff << \new Staff = "Up" << \new Voice \relative c' \new Voice \relative c' >> \new Staff = "Down" \relative c >> | |
| Étude Op. 10, No. 3 | E major | \new PianoStaff << \new Staff = "Up" << \new Voice \relative c' \new Voice \relative c' >> \new Staff = "Down" << \new Voice \relative c \new Voice \relative c \new Voice \relative c >> >> | |
| Étude Op. 10, No. 4 | C minor | \new PianoStaff << \new Staff = "Up" << \new Voice \relative c' \new Voice \relative c' >> \new Staff = "Down" \relative c >> | |
| Étude Op. 10, No. 5 | G major | \new PianoStaff << \new Staff = "Up" << \new Voice \relative c' >> \new Staff = "Down" << \new Voice \relative c >> >> | |
| Étude Op. 10, No. 6 | E minor | \new PianoStaff << \new Staff = "Up" << \new Voice \relative c' >> \new Staff = "Down" << \new Voice \relative c \new Voice \relative c >> >> | |
| Étude Op. 10, No. 7 | C major | \new PianoStaff << \new Staff = "Up" << \new Voice \relative c' >> \new Staff = "Down" << \new Voice \relative c >> >> | |
| Étude Op. 10, No. 8 | F major | \new PianoStaff << \new Staff = "Up" << \new Voice \relative c' >> \new Staff = "Down" << \new Voice \relative c \new Voice \relative c >> >> | |
| Étude Op. 10, No. 9 | F minor | \new PianoStaff << \new Staff = "Up" << \new Voice \relative c' >> \new Staff = "Down" << \new Voice \relative c >> >> | |
| Étude Op. 10, No. 10 | A major | \new PianoStaff << \new Staff = "Up" << \new Voice \relative c' >> \new Staff = "Down" << \new Voice \relative c \new Voice \relative c >> >> | |
| Étude Op. 10, No. 11 | E major | \new PianoStaff << \new Staff = "Up" << \new Voice \relative c' >> \new Staff = "Down" << \new Voice \relative c >> >> | |
| Étude Op. 10, No. 12 | C minor | \new PianoStaff << \new Staff = "Up" << \new Voice \relative c' >> \new Staff = "Down" << \new Voice \relative c >> >> |
Études Op. 25
Chopin's second set of Études was published in 1837, and dedicated to Franz Liszt's mistress, Marie d'Agoult, the reasons for which are a matter of speculation.The date of composition of all opus 25 Etudes is before June 30, 1835, the date of a contract between Chopin and Breitkopf & Hartel
| Opus number | Key | Incipit | Audio |
| Étude Op. 25, No. 1 | A major | \new PianoStaff << \new Staff = "Up" << \new Voice \relative c' >> \new Staff = "Down" << \new Voice \relative c >> >> | |
| Étude Op. 25, No. 2 | F minor | \new PianoStaff << \new Staff = "Up" << \new Voice \relative c' >> \new Staff = "Down" << \new Voice \relative c >> >> | |
| Étude Op. 25, No. 3 | F major | \new PianoStaff << \new Staff = "Up" << \new Voice \relative c' \new Voice \relative c' >> \new Staff = "Down" << \new Voice \relative c \new Voice \relative c >> >> | |
| Étude Op. 25, No. 4 | A minor | \new PianoStaff << \new Staff = "Up" << \new Voice \relative c' >> \new Staff = "Down" << \new Voice \relative c >> >> | |
| Étude Op. 25, No. 5 | E minor | \new PianoStaff << \new Staff = "Up" << \new Voice \relative c' >> \new Staff = "Down" << \new Voice \relative c >> >> | |
| Étude Op. 25, No. 6 | G minor | \new PianoStaff << \new Staff = "Up" << \new Voice \relative c' >> \new Staff = "Down" << \new Voice \relative c >> >> | |
| Étude Op. 25, No. 7 | C minor | \new PianoStaff << \new Staff = "Up" << \new Voice \relative c' >> \new Staff = "Down" << \new Voice \relative c >> >> | |
| Étude Op. 25, No. 8 | D major | \new PianoStaff << \new Staff = "Up" << \new Voice \relative c' >> \new Staff = "Down" << \new Voice \relative c >> >> | |
| Étude Op. 25, No. 9 | G major | \new PianoStaff << \new Staff = "Up" << \new Voice \relative c' \new Voice \relative c' >> \new Staff = "Down" << \new Voice \relative c >> >> | |
| Étude Op. 25, No. 10 | B minor | \new PianoStaff << \new Staff = "Up" << \new Voice \relative c' >> \new Staff = "Down" << \new Voice \relative c >> >> | |
| Étude Op. 25, No. 11 | A minor | \new PianoStaff << \new Staff = "Up" << \new Voice \relative c' \new Voice \relative c' >> \new Staff = "Down" << \new Voice \relative c \new Voice \relative c >> >> | |
| Étude Op. 25, No. 12 | C minor | \new PianoStaff << \new Staff = "Up" << \new Voice \relative c' >> \new Staff = "Down" << \new Voice \relative c >> >> |
| Opus number | Key | Incipit | Recording |
| Étude No. 1 | F minor | \new PianoStaff << \new Staff = "Up" << \new Voice \relative c' >> \new Staff = "Down" << \new Voice \relative c >> >> | |
| Étude No. 2 | A major | \new PianoStaff << \new Staff = "Up" << \new Voice \relative c' >> \new Staff = "Down" << \new Voice \relative c \new Voice \relative c >> >> | |
| Étude No. 3 | D major | \new PianoStaff << \new Staff = "Up" << \new Voice \relative c' \new Voice \relative c >> \new Staff = "Down" << \new Voice \relative c \new Voice \relative c >> >> |
Technical aspects and student guides
Chopin's Études are technically demanding, and require players to have significant experience with speed, arpeggios, and trills even in weaker fingers.For all études
- Casella, Alfredo. F. Chopin. Studi per pianoforte. Milano: Edizioni Curci, 1946.
- Cortot, Alfred. Frédéric Chopin. 12 Études, op. 10. Édition de travail des oeuvres de Chopin. Paris: Éditions Salabert, 1915.
- Cortot, Alfred. Frédéric Chopin. 12 Études, op. 25. Édition de travail des oeuvres de Chopin. Paris: Éditions Salabert, 1915.
- Galston, Gottfried. Studienbuch . III. Abend . Berlin: Bruno Cassirer, 1910.
- Busoni, Ferruccio. Klavierübung in zehn Büchern , zweite umgestaltete und bereicherte Ausgabe. Buch 8. Leipzig: Breitkopf & Härtel, 1925.
- Godowsky, Leopold. Studien über die Etüden von Chopin. New York: G. Schirmer Inc., 1899.
- Joseffy, Rafael. Etudes for the Piano. Instructive Edition. New York: G. Schirmer, 1901.
Paraphrases
- Godowsky, Leopold. 53 Studies on Chopin's Études. New York: G. Schirmer Inc., 1899.
- Wührer, Friedrich. Achtzehn Studien zu Frédéric Chopins Etuden . In Motu Contrario . Heidelberg: Willy Müller, Süddeutscher Musikverlag, 1958.