When you are playing a little tired but are helped with the last three notes...
The twelve Etudes of Opus 25 constitute Chopin's second collection of piano etudes. Dedicated to Countess Marie d'Agoult, Liszt's companion during those years, they were completed between 1832 and 1836, and published in Paris in 1837. Shortly after, they will be published in Germany and England.
As we know, piano études are intended to develop the technique and skills of the budding pianist, and those of the virtuoso as well. Chopin's Études, in particular, fulfilled a long-awaited desire to combine this practical purpose with a high musical content.
To this achievement, in addition to the undoubted genius of the Polish master, the contribution of the 19th century piano, with its seven octaves, felt-covered hammers, and metal harp, capable of producing full and firm sounds in any dynamic, forte or piano, and of responding to expressive demands as well as to those of an overwhelming virtuosity, was no less important. Chopin and his genius arrived at the right moment.
Etude No. 2 of Opus 25, in F minor
On his first tour to Vienna in 1829, Chopin was warmly greeted by the public, and the professional critics also spared no praise. The editor of the Allgemeine Musikalische Zeitung noted: "...the extraordinary delicacy of his touch, an indescribable technical perfection, his complete range of nuances, all reflecting the deepest feeling".
A minute and a half
It is precisely what is required to properly interpret this brief etude of just over a minute and a half in length. Like most of the etudes, it is written in binary form, A-B-A, that is, it contains a main theme that begins it, then a central section, and after that, the first theme is taken up again.
Little Emilie
The rendition is by Paul Barton, a British pianist who, apart from playing for blind elephants in Thailand, is a well-known YouTuber who gives tips for serious amateurs on his channel. On this occasion, he is accompanied by his little daughter, Emilie, fourteen months old, who intervenes at the end of the piece to delicately press the three C natural, pianissimo, with which this little gem ends.
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