Chopin Étude Op. 10, No. 2
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Étude No. 2 | |
 |
|
| Composition by Frédéric Chopin | |
| Alternate name: | Chromatic |
|---|---|
| Form: | Étude |
| Key/Time signature: | A minor, 4/4 |
| Tempo | Allegro |
| Date of composition: | 1830 |
| Composition number: | Op. 10 No. 2 |
Étude Op.10, No.2 in A minor is a technical study composed by Frédéric Chopin for the piano. This étude is an exercise in developing the weaker fingers of the right hand by indicating a rapid chromatic scale to be played with the third, fourth, and fifth fingers. The thumb and index finger are made to play accompanying chords, leaving the work of playing the chromatic melody to the third, fourth and fifth fingers. This fingering, which Chopin indicated himself note by note in almost 800 numbers, constitutes the revival of an older 17th century pre-Bach harpsichord fingering.
[edit] Structure
The melody consists of a rapid chromatic scale played by the outer right-hand fingers, accompanied by chord attacks. Like most of his other études, Chopin divided this work into three sections, the first theme, second theme, and Recapitulation. The music starts with the melody in A minor, and a rag-style motive played by the left hand. As the chordal harmony develops, the key changes into C Major, and progresses into a climax with an A harmonic minor scale. The first theme is then restated in the Coda, which finishes the music with a rising and falling scale into a Picardy ending.
Chopin demands that the chromatic scale be played sempre legato (always legato), a direction mentioned seven times throughout the score. This contrasts with the staccato chords played as accompaniment.
The original manuscripts for Opus 10 have an alla breve for No.2, but Chopin seems to have changed this when they were first published. The first French, German, and English editions have common time.[1]
- Étude No.2 (file info) — play in browser (beta)
- Martha Goldstein playing on an Erard (1851) - 1571KB
- Problems listening to the file? See media help.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Palmer, W: Chopin Etudes for the Piano, page 10. Alfred Publishing Co., Inc., 1992
[edit] External Links
- Sheet music, courtesy of Public Domain IMSLP.
- Sheet music available in .pdf or LilyPond format, from Mutopia.
List of compositions by Frédéric Chopin • About the Chopin Études |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
