Chopin Étude Op. 25, No. 1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Étude No. 13 | |
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| Composition by Frédéric Chopin | |
| Alternate name: | Aeolian Harp |
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| Form: | Étude |
| Key/Time signature: | A-flat major, 4/4 |
| Tempo | Allegro |
| Date of composition: | 1838 |
| Composition number: | Op. 25 No. 1 |
Étude Op. 25, No. 1 is a solo piano work composed by Frédéric Chopin in 1838. This work consists entirely of rapid arpeggios and harmonic modulations based on A-flat major. Robert Schumann famously praised this work in a dissertation on the Études. Stating that the arpeggios were "fantastic", and the "wondrous" melody, it was Schumann who coined the alternate name "Aeolian Harp" for this étude.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Structure
This étude comprises a right hand melody, in semiquaver-tuplets, and accompanying left hand in various note lengths. The melody in the right hand is brought out by the pinky, which accents each note at the apex of an arpeggio.
The work as a whole is very structured. The distinct first theme is presented in A Major, and it modulates to a second theme. At the end of the second theme is a large climax, which descends into a restating of the first theme and the coda.
- Étude Op. 25, No. 1 (file info) — play in browser (beta)
- Martha Goldstein playing on an Erard (1851) - 2574KB
- Problems listening to the file? See media help.
[edit] Technique
As a technical work, this piece requires very little dexerity and velocity, compared to the other études. The inner voice figures comprise repeated figures of arpeggiated chords. One difficulty this étude presents is the voicing of the inner sound. Schumann once commented on Chopin's subtle emphasis on certain melodies throughout this piece.[2]
[edit] Notes
- ^ Schumann quoted by Kullak, quoted by James Huneker in Chopin: the Man and His Music (1900).
- ^ "Chopin Etude 25.1", In the Hands. March 13, 2007.
[edit] External Links
- Sheet music available in .pdf or LilyPond format, from Mutopia.
List of compositions by Frédéric Chopin • About the Chopin Études |
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