Frédéric Chopin
Etude
in C Minor, Op. 10 No. 12
The Revolutionary Etude is intense, tempestuous and sounds like a chaotic battle. Chopin seems to have poured into this piece the emotions he felt when hearing about Poland's failed revolt against Russia, the 1831 November Uprising.
Year: 1832
Period: Early Romantic
Piano score: PS Urtext 
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A War Cry at the Piano
Like the rest of Chopin’s Etudes, the Revolutionary presents serious technical hurdles, but unlike most of the others, the difficulties are mainly in the left hand. A heroic, fanfare-like melody is played by the right hand while the left hand creates an impression of chaos and intensity by making continuous fast runs up and down the keyboard. One of the more interesting aspects of the piece is its abrupt ending. It ends with a descending sweep in both hands that arrives at a C major chord, supposedly brighter and more positive-sounding than the rest of the piece, which is in c minor. However, the arrival of this chord is so abrupt that the effect is anything but soothing. An unexpected touch to one of Chopin's most intense works, and possibly an allusion to the end of the first movement of Beethoven’s Sonata op 111, which Chopin is known to have admired.Background
The "Revolutionary" Etude is the twelfth and last piece in Chopin's first set of Etudes. It was written in 1831 at about the same time as the November Uprising, Poland's failed revolt against Russia. As this etude's alternative title suggests, Chopin seems to have written it as a response to the Polish revolt, and he poured many of the emotions that he was feeling at the time into the work.Chopin's first set of etudes signifies a complete overhaul of the etude genre, transforming it from technical drudgery to a true art form with rich emotional and musical content, which at the same time takes piano technique to new heights. The set was dedicated to Franz Liszt, about whom Chopin reportedly said with regard to the études: “I wish I could steal from him the way he plays them.”
Forum posts about this piece:
Chopin 10/12 - strict legato, or whole hand jumps with pedals? by asanoth
Hello, I am a hobbyist, playing just for my own pleasure. Some 5 years ago, I learned Chopin's Etude op.10 no. 12. Not really as well as I would like to, but listenable (if that is a word). In...
Bridging the Gap to Winter Wind by maybeican
I am currently in the process of studying the ‘Revolutionary’ etude from opus 10, and am wondering if anyone has any recommendations for a few pieces I can focus on after this etude in order to build the...
Piano Pieces for around Upper Intermediate - Lower Advanced Level by kaideedee17
I sorta need some recommendations for pieces because I need something to play on top of Chopin's 12th etude, 3rd etude, and arabesque no 2 for a family reunion where I need to casually play yet sorta...
Scherzo2 vs Revolutionary Etude by shidaniel77
Working on scherzo no2 just wondering which is harder Chopin’s Revolutionary or his scherzo no2. Length of piece, dynamics, phrasing, technicality,...
What piece do you guys suggest? by pianoguy2009
Hi, I am a pianist who just passed grade 6(with distinction)ABRSM and I’m about to start grade 8(yes, I skipped grade 7) and I’m looking for some classical pieces to practice so I can perform, however,...
Can i pull off Chopin's Scherzo no 2 as a beginner/intermediate by aleksej
For context, i have started playing piano normally a year ago, i knew how to play piano but not the technical stuff, used to to play Pop etc. last year i got hooked on piano. i've played Chopins...
When SHOULD You Start Teaching? by chrism05
Hello everyone, I'm 16 years old and I've been playing piano for almost 9 years. I realize that there isn't a set-in-stone skill requirement that you need in order to help people improve at the...
Attempting Chopin Etudes after Liszt's S136 by apophis3
Hello, I'm a piano student who is currently playing through Liszt's S136. (Currently on the c minor etude) I plan on playing a few of Chopin's etudes after finishing the S136 set. Which...
Am I skilled enough to play Appassionata 3rd movement? by classicalstudent1
I have learned piano for about 5 years. Some of the harder pieces I can play are moonlight sonata 3rd mov and chopin's revolutionary etude(without mistake). I thinking of trying appassionata 3rd mov, but...
Good pieces to build skill? by deltoro
So I made another thread about playing the Revolutionary Etude and got slaughtered LOL. Can you suggest pieces that are good to play to build skill? What are some typical pieces you play to get to the...
From Clair de Lune to Revolutionary Etude? by deltoro
Hey everyone, I wanted to ask if I could get some tips. I'm an amateur, I have played for a while, I can play Clair de Lune pretty good now. I have not mastered it, but it's allright. I wonder how I get...
What is the most efficient way to increase finger strength? by claireliii
Hi, I am a semi-professional pianist, and I currently find myself struggling with speed of the chopin etudes due to lack of finger strength. (e.g. I am currently working on chopin etude op.10 no.12, and if...
Can anyone recommend me some etudes? by ivorycherry
Hello, I am an intermediate-advanced player and my teacher would like me to play another Chopin etude. I can already play the op 10 no 12 at 126 bpm per quarter note and I’m eyeing op 10 no 4 and op 25...
Stamina by ivorycherry
Hello, So I tend to loose my energy and stamina and after playing a lot of repeated octaves or notes for a while my forearms start to sting and get tired really quickly. For example in Scriabin’s...
Estudio OP 10 no 2(revolucionario), etude op 10 no 12 by gonza2324
Hola a todos he comenzado con el estudio OP 10 no 12 de chopin es mi segundo día y ya tengo la primera página ya aprendida y dominada, quisiera que dieran consejos con esta pieza de como estudiarla...
Romantic Repertoire Suggestions by sdphins
Hey there, I was wondering if you guys could give me some suggestions for repertoire, specifically the romantic period. Right now I'm working on the Revolutionary Etude. Should I take on another...
Am I at a high enough standard to play Chopin's revolutionary etude? by sondabon
Hi everyone! I'm new to the website but I could really use some advice. I am doing my eighth grade studies for AMEB at the moment and am interested in the revolutionary etude by Chopin. I'm left...
Bar 27 of Revolutionary by tunneller
The RHS has Eb-F-A-D eliding into C and then D-F-Bb on the next bar. Any advice on how to finger that first chord? I can make it if I put my wrist below the keys and kind of reach up from the...
Which piece should I learn by zrz1127
I’ve been playing for about 3 or 4 years now. I just finished Chopin op10 no 12 and was wondering where I should go from there. I’ve also done simpler pieces like Rachmaninoff’s prelude in C# minor and...
Chopin's «Revolutionary» Etude in Octaves for Dreyschock Bicentenary by octave_revolutionary
Hello, forum As some of you may already know, the year 2018 is the bicentenary of the birth of Alexander Dreyschock, the pianist who has secured a place in history primarily for having played...
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Etude Op. 10 No. 12 in C Minor, a composition by the early romantic composer Frédéric Chopin who was born in 1810 and died in 1849. The piano score of this piece was first published in 1832 and is part of Chopin's Etudes.