Etudes, op. 25
Étude Op. 25, No. 1 in A♭ major is a solo piano work composed by Frédéric Chopin in 1836, and published in 1837. The work consists entirely of rapid arpeggios and harmonic modulations based on A♭ major.
Robert Schumann praised this work in a dissertation on the Études; calling it "a poem rather than a study", he coined for it the alternate name "Aeolian Harp". It is also sometimes known as "The Shepherd Boy," following an unsupported tale by Kleczyński that Chopin advised a pupil to picture a shepherd boy taking refuge in a grotto to avoid a storm playing the melody on his flute.
Movements
- Étude in A‐flat major, op. 25 no. 1 “Aeolian Harp”: Allegro sostenuto
- Étude in F minor, op. 25 no. 2: Presto
- Étude in F major, op. 25 no. 3: Allegro
- Étude in A minor, op. 25 no. 4: Agitato
- Étude in E minor, op. 25 no. 5: Vivace
- Étude in G‐sharp minor, op. 25 no. 6 “Thirds”: Allegro
- Étude in C‐sharp minor, op. 25 no. 7: Lento
- Étude in D‐flat major, op. 25 no. 8 “Sixths”: Vivace
- Étude in G‐flat major, op. 25 no. 9 “Butterfly”: Allegro assai
- Étude in B minor, op. 25 no. 10 “Octaves”: Allegro con fuoco
- Étude in A minor, op. 25 no. 11 “Winter Wind”: Lento
- Étude in C minor, op. 25 no. 12 “Ocean”: Allegro molto con fuoco
Recommended recordings
- Maurizio Pollini YouTubeSpotify (subscription)
- Murray Perahia YouTubeSpotify (subscription)