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Burgmüller - 5. Innocence in F Major (from 25 Easy and Progressive Etudes, Op. 100)
The tempo is moderate (crotchet = c.100) and the mood graceful. The short RH slurs imply a very slight stress on the first note of each group. A very delicate touch is called for here, the finger tips active and the wrist flexible. This supplementary exercise helps develop the touch. This tapping exercise is useful to secure the hand positions for the progression of chords. Keep fingers close to the keys, and make sure the wrist stays free at all times. Play the expressive sighs in the RH using a... Read >>
Burgmüller - 5. Innocence in F Major (from 25 Easy and Progressive Etudes, Op. 100)
Beginning at a gentle p dynamic (as so many of the études do), the tempo is moderato (not too fast) and the mood grazisoso (graceful). The composer leaves it to us to decide the dynamic level at the end of the crescendo in the first half of this binary piece. My sense is that it should not rise above a mf, in order that the crescendo to f in bar 13 (where we find the highest note in the piece) marks the climax. On the final chord, also marked f, we find the lowest LH note (bass F). Play this... Read >>
Burgmüller - 17. La Babillarde (The Chatterbox) in F Major (from 25 Easy and Progressive Etudes, Op. 100)
La babillarde (Chatterbox) is a tuneful and humorous study in repeated notes, useful because both hands get the chance to develop this important skill. Only 35 bars long, there is great value in observing the repeats once the study has been mastered. Allegretto tells us the tempo is lively, but not too fast. The original French edition gives a tempo of 72 per dotted crotchet, rather on the fast side. I suggest experimenting with various different tempi starting from 60 per dotted crotchet. It is not always the case that repeated notes must be played with a change of finger,... Read >>
Burgmüller - 13. Consolation in C Major (from 25 Easy and Progressive Etudes, Op. 100)
The thirteenth étude, Consolation (Comfort), returns to the familiar key of C major. Marked dolce lusingando (sweetly and caressingly), it calls for careful control of tone as we balance melody and accompaniment not only between the two hands, but also within each hand. There are many beautiful, expressive moments in this etude that we need to enjoy and savour as we play them. The harmonic progression in bars 5 and 6 that enhances chord ii in what would otherwise be a standard sequence of chords is one example, the modulation to E minor (bars 14-15) another. The semibreves in the... Read >>
Burgmüller - 16. Douce Plainte (Tender Appeal) in G Minor (from 25 Easy and Progressive Etudes, Op. 100)
Douce plainte (Gentle Complaint) is a study in expressive playing, requiring very careful listening indeed. In the key of G minor, and marked dolente (sadly), we find expression not only in the melodic line that passes from one hand to the other, but also in the rises and falls in the accompaniment figuration (we respond by adding our own gentle hairpins, with no accent on the final quaver of the slurred groups). Playing a melodic line in legato cantabile style involves not merely projecting it over the accompaniment, but also paying attention to how one note relates to the next... Read >>
Burgmüller - 8. La Gracieuse (Gracefully) in F Major (from 25 Easy and Progressive Etudes, Op. 100)
La Gracieuse (Gracefully) is in the subdued key of F major, and features written-out turns against a simple chordal background. The left hand has the chance to explore the ornament in the B section of this ternary form study, but we begin with the right hand. The turn consists of four notes - the note above, the principal note, the note below, and the principal note again. If this study were written with the usual ornament sign for a turn, the page would look much cleaner. Instead of all the demisemiquavers (or 32nd note in the American nomenclature), we would... Read >>
Burgmüller - 4. La Petite Réunion (The Little Party) in C major (from 25 Easy and Progressive Etudes, Op. 100)
The composer paints a jolly picture of a little party in this piece. We hear laughter in the bouncy thirds (RH bars 2, 10, etc.) and perhaps a note of disappointment (the A flats in bars 19 and 20) that the party is drawing to a close and it is time to think about going home. The guests are happy and content, and enjoy each other’s conversation (listen carefully to the dialogue between the hands from bar 15). This is a study in double note playing on the white notes (mostly thirds, but also sixths), staccato as well as legato.... Read >>
Burgmüller - 14. La Styrienne (Styrian Dance) in G Major (from 25 Easy and Progressive Etudes, Op. 100)
La Styrienne (Styrian Dance) is a fast Austrian waltz in folk style, characterised by strong first beats (often featuring grace notes). The metronome mark in the original French edition is 176 for the crotchet, which is on the fast side. Whatever tempo you eventually settle on should not be metronomic in any strict sense beat by beat. The way Austrian waltzes move is very difficult to describe, but we will get a better sense of their unique style and character after listening to a few different examples of such music (Johann Strauss would be a good place to start). This... Read >>
Burgmüller - Burgmüller - Innocence (No. 5 from 25 études faciles et progressives, Op.100) (from 25 Easy and Progressive Etudes, Op. 100)
ABRSM Grade 3 – A2
A study in delicacy of touch and articulation, tonal balance between the hands and scale patterns in the upper register, Innocence gives plenty of scope for understanding harmony and developing musical as well as technical skills. Please sign-in to view the full video if you are already an Online Academy subscriber or click here to find out more about the Online Academy. Resources & links Piano Exam Pieces 2021 & 2021, Grade 3 is available from the ABRSM online shop here. Click... Read >>