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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 - 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 - 4. La Petite Réunion (The Little Party) in C major (from 25 Easy and Progressive Etudes, Op. 100)
The LH is the leader in the introduction. Let the melody sing out as it invites us to the party. Imagine the RH as excited chatter or laughter from the other guests, who are excited to be at the gathering. I recommend small forearm bounces close to the keys, the wrist unbending. For stability in the hand, practise repeating each chord two (or more) times. Thinking of the double notes in two parts (soprano and alto), first play each part by itself, making sure to use the fingering you will use when playing both parts together. Tapping the... Read >>
Burgmüller - 18. Inquiétude (Restlessness) in E Minor (from 25 Easy and Progressive Etudes, Op. 100)
In Inquiétude (Restlessness) we find just one basic pattern – left hand staccato chords on each beat of the bar and scurrying semiquaver groups in the right hand, off the beat. It makes sense to begin learning the notes with the left hand, the conductor. The wedged staccato dashes tell us to play short and emphatically, with energy in the tips of the fingers. The right hand groups need to be played close to the keys, yet with a sense of shaping and mobility in the hand and wrist. The wider intervals, such as we find in bars 5-6, and... 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 - Berceuse (No. 7 from 18 Characteristic Studies, Op. 109)
Burgmüller’s educational piano music is still among the very best. This exquisite little Berceuse requires considerable control of tone, texture and pedalling to bring out its beauties. Resources & links Click here to purchase sheet music form the Trinity College online store (external link). Click here to view open domain editions for these works (external link, see page 12). Click here to view the index for our Guide to the Trinity College Piano Syllabus. ... Read >>
Burgmüller - 11. La Bergeronnette (The Wagtail) in C Major (from 25 Easy and Progressive Etudes, Op. 100)
La Bergeronnette (The Wagtail) depicts a genus of bird that constantly moves its tail; Burgmüller captures this flickering, fluttering movement by the prevailing rhythmic figure we hear right at the start – two semiquavers and a quaver under a slur. It is important that the first note of the slurred group is lightly stressed, and the last note released without an accent. Make sure to retain this strong-weak emphasis even in the crescendos (from bar 19, and from bar 26), where each three-note group is stronger than the previous one. The leggiero marking invites us to use a light touch... Read >>
Burgmüller - 23. Le Retour (from 25 Easy and Progressive Etudes, Op. 100)
Le retour (The Return) is all about the excitement of seeing a friend again after an absence. Marked molto agitato quasi presto, there is a strong sense of agitation and eager expectation; the diminuendo e poco ritenuto in the coda seems to express relief that all the excitement is over, and contentment that both parties are happily reunited. It is worth noting that the title, key and time signature are the same as in the finale of Beethoven’s Sonata in E-flat, op 81a (“Les Adieux”). The main technical challenge of the étude is how to manage the repeated notes without... Read >>
Burgmüller - 1. La Candeur (Openness) in C major (from 25 Easy and Progressive Etudes, Op. 100)
Cultivate a singing style in the RH (legato cantabile), shaping the line expressively with nuances. The short phrase marks (slurs) do not necessarily imply a lifting of the hand at the ends but show how the notes are to be grouped (in the manner of string bowing). Interpret these with a slight emphasis on the first note of each group and a subtle diminuendo towards the end of the group. A chord legato wherever possible in the LH progression ensures the smoothest connections and the best control of sound: Crescendo means soft! Start... Read >>