Opening of the Revolutionary Étude

Étude Op. 10, No. 12 in C minor, known as the "Revolutionary Étude" or the "Étude on the Bombardment of Warsaw",[1] is a solo piano work by Frédéric Chopin written c. 1831, and the last in his first set, Etudes, Op. 10, dedicated "à son ami Franz Liszt" ("to his friend Franz Liszt"). The autograph is located in the archive of Stiftelsen Musikkulturens Främjande (The Nydahl Collection) in Stockholm.

History

The "Revolutionary Étude" was inspired by the 1831 Russian attack on Warsaw during the November Uprising

The 12th Étude appeared around the same time as the November Uprising in 1831. Upon the conclusion of Poland's failed revolution against Russia, he cried, "All this has caused me much pain. Who could have foreseen it?"[2]

Unlike études of prior periods, works designed to emphasize and develop particular aspects of musical technique, the romantic études of composers such as Chopin and Liszt are fully developed musical concert pieces, while still continuing the goal of developing stronger technique.

Technique

In the case of Op. 10, No. 12, the technique required in the opening bars is playing long, loud descending runs, which form a dominant minor ninth chord introductory build-up to the main theme. The length and repetition of these rapid passages are distinctive. The rest of the passage focuses on the left hand fingering scales and arpeggios. The opening theme, in the right hand, is notable for its powerful chordal basis.

The challenge lies with the relentless left hand semiquavers while the RH shapes widely distributed octaves into legato melodic shapes.

The left hand technique in this piece involves evenly played semiquavers throughout. The structure is in Chopin's usual ternary form (A–B–A–coda). The opening arresting figuration transitions into the main appassionato melody. The octave melody's upward ascending forte dotted rhythms and the continuous tumultuous LH accompaniment provide great drama with few moments of respite. The piece ends by recalling the opening in a final descending sweep (with both hands) descending to an F major chord, eventually cadencing on C major (tierce de Picardie).

References

  1. ↑ de Korwin-Piotrowska, Sophie (1933). Baldensperger, Fernand; Hazard, Paul (eds.). Balzac et le monde slave [Balzac and the Slavic World]. Bibliothèque de la Revue de littérature comparée (in French). Vol. 93. Paris: University of Paris & H. Champion. p. 336. OCLC 489978309.
  2. ↑ Niecks, Frederick (1945), Frédéric Chopin as a Man and Musician, p. 98.
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