Chopin was the greatest composer of piano music in the 19th century and, perhaps, of all time. He was the only great composer who wrote almost entirely for the piano, and his works are of such a uniformly high quality that they are all absolutely essential in the repertoire of any aspiring pianist. The Preludes and Etudes are exquisitely beautiful examples of his genius.
Numbering 52 pieces in all, they are reproduced here from the authoritative Mikuli scores and are available for the first time in a low-priced, one-volume edition. The opus listings are:
25 Preludes—Op. 28, Nos. 1-24; Prelude in C-sharp Minor, Op. 45
27 Etudes—Op. 10, Nos. 1-i2; Op. 25, Nos. 1-12; and
Trois Nouvelles Etudes
As Chopin's student, and later, he teaching assistant, Karol (Carl) Mikuli (1819-1897)— Polish pianist, composer, conductor and teacher- was in a particularly privileged and advantageous position to take into account all that the master brought to his playing and teaching. His editorial contributions to this volume reflect his understaning of the principles that underly this body of work, imparted to him in word and deed by the composer.
These works are milestones in music literature, not just for pianists, but for anyone interested in composition. The Preludes, originated as a type of music by Chopin, are regarded as the quintessential Romantic compositions; the Etudes were revolutionary in terms of harmony and are considered to have marked a new approach to piano playing. Lovers of piano music will find these scores to be the finest accompaniment to any of the numerous recordings of the Preludes and Etudes, while pianists at even the intermediate level will have no difficulty playing some of these delightful and enchanting pieces.
Unabridged (1998) republication of works from an authoritative early edition. New unified table of contents. 192pp. 9 x 12. Paperbound.
We have made every effort to make this the best book possible. Our paper is opaque, with minimal show-through; it will not discolor or become brittle with age. Pages are sewn in signatures, in the method traditionally used for the best books, and will not drop out, as often happens with paperbacks held together with glue. Books open flat for easy reference. The binding will not crack or split. This is a permanent book.
Revised 4/5/2011