They are exceedingly fine etudes. Better in many ways to the more famous ones by composers I will not name (hence people get their feelings hurt).I do not see the 'logic' in seeing these as pre-work to the Chopin ones. Henselt was in many regards one THE greatest of piano virtuosos of his time. Were it it not for his extreme dislike of public attention, we would probably hear his name as often as Liszt. His music is exquisitely crafted and his etude subtitled 'If I were a bird' is one of the prettiest things I have ever heard.Play them and approach them as the high quality, high standard, and difficult works they are. I would not treat these as just some Pre-Chopin foray. Good luck and enjoy.
Play them and approach them as the high quality, high standard, and difficult works they are. I would not treat these as just some Pre-Chopin foray. Good luck and enjoy.
I don't take Henselt etude like pre-Chopin. But I'm a bit worried of the expectation, that the Chopin etudes has to be played perfect and everybody knows them. But Henselt's etudes are not that known. It doesn't mean that I could play them weakly but there will not be that big pressure of polishing them.When I listen to some great pianists play Chopin etudes I'm really uncomfortable about their interpretation...and I feel like...If they can't play it perfect...how the hell I could play it well?
FYI - the pianosyllabus.com site only lists a couple of the Henselt etudes - Si oiseau j'etais (No 6) and Repos d'amour (No 4) at grades 7 and 8 respectively. The Chopin etudes all seem to go at grades 11-12, although one is listed at grade 9 and a few at grade 10.
Re 'Si oiseau j'etais' that is quite extraordinary. It should viewed as of full concert etude level difficulty. Especially with regard to the fact it should be played with feathery lightness.
full value at grade 7!