Étude Op. 25, No. 10 (Chopin)

Étude Op. 25, No. 10, in B minor is a solo piano study composed by Frédéric Chopin in 1835.

Excerpt from the Étude Op. 25, No. 10

Structure

Étude Op. 25, No. 10 features many unique aspects not typically present in Chopin's études, including a significant and distinctive ternary form. The first theme is presented as a series of eighth note-tuplets in cut time, but not in ¹²
₈ time, played at a very fast tempo of Allegro. The second theme is in B minor's parallel major, B major, and in triple metre. The second theme is repeated four times, and develops into a variation of the first theme, returning to cut time and B minor.

Copious pedal point notes and phrase markings are present in the second theme, but the entire étude lacks any pedal indications. Similar to the Op. 10, No. 4 étude, Chopin emphasizes legato playing through the phrasing and (lack of) pedal marking. Throughout the entire work, Chopin marks only five dynamic markings; the entire first theme is to be played forte to fortissimo, and the whole second theme is piano.

External links

• Études Op. 25: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
• Op. 25, No. 10 played by Josef Lhévinne
• Op. 25, No. 10 played by Alfred Cortot
• Op. 25, No. 10 played by Claudio Arrau
• Op. 25, No. 10 played by Vladimir Ashkenazy
• Op. 25, No. 10 played by Maurizio Pollini
• Op. 25, No. 10 played by Andrei Gavrilov