Chopin Étude Op. 25, No. 1

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Étude No. 13
Image:Etude 25 1.png
Composition by Frédéric Chopin
Alternate name: Aeolian Harp
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.

[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

[edit] External Links