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.

ID: 127
Frédéric Chopin - Etudes:

Etude
Op. 10 No. 12

Key: C Minor
Year: 1832
Level: 8+
Period: Early Romantic
piano sheet music Piano score: PS Urtext Download
piano sheet music Piano score: Scholtz edition Download
Piano Music AST Audiovisual Study Tool Listen & View

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:

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, tech...

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...

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...

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...

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 ...

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 etu...

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 buil...

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 ...

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....

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 a...

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 ...

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, qui...

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 ...

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 a...

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 m...

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 als...

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 se...

Help with difficulty order by arxhgos
Hello, I would like some opinions about the difficulty of this pieces.I know that it depends on person but I would like several opinions, so...

technical studies, etudes by pianodc
Hello All, It's time to hunker down on solid technique improving etudes. Please help with constructive ideas. I've played most ...

Pedal marks on Chopin Revolutionary Etude by re_ignited_17
Hello to everyone on the forum, and I hope this topic isn't duplicating another one already posted. I am preparing for my ARCT exam at...


Member's recordings of piece:

Revolutionary Etude in octaves by robertus
This was famously performed as a 'stunt' by the 19th century pianist, Alexander Dreyschock. Here is my attempt (still a lot of work ...

Chopin - Op. 10 No. 12 Attempt by _thepsor
youtu.be/UZ2zbT_rH2Q This is on my school piano... I was wondering if people might be able to give me advice and tell me what they thought ...

Experimental interpretation of Chopin's Revolutionary Etude by chris_master
Drop a comment below if you like  :) youtu.be/6nOhTREOag4...

Chopin Revolutionary Etude Op. 10 No. 12 by kairosophia
www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqL0JDcTvjs [url=www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqL0JDcTvjs]www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqL0JDcTvjs[/url] (if embedding YouTube...

[Video] Chopin Etude Op.10 No.12 "Revolutionary" in C Minor by lafo
Favorite Etude from the first set of Chopin Etudes :)) Hope you like it! youtu.be/N__pkGEW2Ho...


Members who like this piece have also downloaded:

Classical piano sheet music by Chopin to download: Etude Op. 10 No. 12 in the key of This piece has difficulty level 8+ in the category Study
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.