Explore: the etude
From pieces for beginners to virtuosic concert studies, from Czerny to Chopin: Discover the versatility of the etude in this playlist.
Read more…Etudes have been an important part of the classical repertoire for many centuries. They first appeared in the Baroque era, when composers such as Bach and Telemann wrote keyboard exercises to help students improve their technique. However, it wasn’t until the 19th century that the etude became an essential genre, with pianist-composers like Chopin and Liszt composing virtuosic etudes to both enhance and showcase a pianist’s technical ability. Despite many of the most popular works of the genre being written for piano, etudes are written for every instrument, mostly focusing on specific techniques and aspects of playing. They are commonly used as teaching tools and required repertoire for music students, but are also performed by professional musicians to showcase their technical prowess. Despite their primarily functional purpose, etudes are often fascinating compositions in their own right, as this playlist proves.