Chopin - Étude Op. 10, No. 12 in C minor, "Revolutionary Étude"

Painting depicting the suppression of the Polish uprising by the Russians in 1830

The "Revolutionary" etude was composed after Chopin was informed that the 1831 Polish uprising had been crushed by the Russian troops.

It has been said about Chopin's Etudes that "they are as inaccessible to the musician without virtuosity as they are to the virtuoso without musicality". Certainly the "Revolutionary" Etude pushes the pianist to his limits.

But the technical complexity doesn't overshadow the musical flood for a moment.

Above the troubled part of the left hand, emotion and melody cross the storm like the unruly boat at the top of the wave.

Chopin designed this piece as a piano exercise or an etude for the left hand. All the 12 Etudes of Opus 10 are influenced by violinist Nikolo Paganini and pianist Franz Liszt and are dedicated to the latter.

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