The variety of etudes in the piano repertoire has always astounded me. Some are created to build up ones physical stamina, some to increase tone quality, some to work on co-ordination, and some just to blatantly frustrate you. The concert etudes by Liszt are just as the name describes. Great crowd pleasers that sound super showy, yet fit great under the hand. More over, if one is looking for more of a challenge, try the Transcendental Etudes. These are a brilliant example of a composer writing a piece to imitate the sound of an orchestra. Because of this, many textures can be created at the piano, and variety of colors can be discovered. Fantastic set to build your technique, but requires years of patience.
Rachmaninoff Etudes-Tableaux is a beautiful set that brings out the best of melody in technique. Not as technically demanding Liszt’s collection, Etudes-Tableaux employ the idea of long melodic lines between hands coupled with a talent for building to ‘the point’. That large swooping Russian sound that Rachmaninoff is so associated with, can be heard throughout this whole set. These compositions also fit very well underneath the hands, and when one finds the correct rhythm, they are super satisfying to play and to deliver!
The etudes of Mr. Scriabin continue to have the romantic feel so well related to his early period. This set contains many colors, and awkward meters at times, which keep you counting like a fiend. To add to the already exotic textures, he uses a lot of chromaticism and double sharps and flats to embellish his colors. Not always the easiest music to get your hands around, however when one masters the etude, the performing experience is both encouraging and exciting.
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