Chopin Étude Op. 10, No. 12
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| Étude No. 12 | |
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| Composition by Frédéric Chopin | |
| Alternate name: | Revolutionary |
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| Form: | Étude |
| Key/Time signature: | C minor, 2/2 |
| Tempo | Allegro con fuoco |
| Date of composition: | 1831 |
| Composition number: | Op. 10 No. 12 |
Étude in C minor, op. 10 no. 12, known as The Revolutionary Étude, is a solo piano work by Frédéric Chopin written circa 1831. It is the 12th of his first set of etudes - "Douze Grandes Etudes" dedicated to "son ami Franz Liszt" (his friend Franz Liszt). The two sets of Études, Opus 10 and 25, are known collectively as the Chopin Études, although Chopin also contributed three other lesser known études.
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[edit] History
The étude appeared around the same time as the November Uprising in 1831. Chopin was unable to take an active part in the uprising due to his physical frailty and instead poured his emotions on the matter into many pieces that he composed at that time - the most notable being the Revolutionary Étude. Upon conclusion of Poland's failed revolution against Russia, he cried "All this has caused me much pain. Who could have forseen it!"[1]
Unlike études of prior periods (works designed to emphasize and develop particular aspects of musical technique, cf the much feared but essential School of Velocity, or the Five Finger Exercises by Hanon) the romantic études of composers such as Chopin and Liszt are fully developed musical concert pieces, but retain the stylistic goal of emphasizing development of particular piano techniques.
[edit] Technique
In the case of The Revolutionary Étude, the technique required in the opening bars is playing an extremely fast, long and loud descending harmonic minor scale. The length and the repetition of these rapid passages distinguishes The Revolutionary from other études.
Another technique developed is cross-rhythms which are used with increasing sophistication to handle the same theme in various successive parallel passages.
The left hand technique involved in this piece involves evenly played rapid passages throughout. The basic form is a strophic coda form (A A'). The opening broken chords (diminished chord with an added passing note) and downward passages transition into the main appassionato melody. The octave melody's dotted rhythms and the continuous accompaniment creates tension. At the end of the A' section, the coda provides somewhat of a rest from that tension and then the work recalls the opening in a final descending sweep leading to the final closing chords, in C major.[2]
- Étude No.12 (file info) — play in browser (beta)
- Martha Goldstein playing on an Erard (1851) - 2985KB
- Problems listening to the file? See media help.
[edit] Contemporary adaptations
- Konami featured this piece in its Bemani series of music games. "Kakumei" (革命?), which means "revolution" in Japanese, is a remix of this étude by dj TAKA feat. NAOKI. It first appeared in Beatmania IIDX and then later in Dance Dance Revolution 7th Mix.
- A 1989 adaptation by composer Zack Laurence saw the piece used as the theme tune for the ITV adventure game show "Interceptor" where it was given a modern disco feel and renamed "Rock Revolution"
- Nineteenth-century pianist Alexander Dreyschock learned to play the left-hand semiquaver passages in octaves, which observers of his concerts say he could play in the correct tempo. It is reported that after Dreyschock decided to learn how to do this, he worked sixteen hours per day until he had overcome the technical problems.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ Niecks, Frederick. Frederic Chopin as a Man and Musician. 1902, page 98.
- ^ Kamien, Roger. Music : An Appreciation. Mcgraw-Hill College; 3rd edition (August 1, 1997), page 231, 232. ISBN 0070365210
- ^ Schoenberg, Harold C., The Great Pianists
[edit] External links
- Mutopia Project - A public domain engraving of the score using GNU LilyPond, available in several formats.
- IMSLP - Public Domain Sheet Music of the Etudes Op.10
List of compositions by Frédéric Chopin • About the Chopin Études |
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