Frederic Chopin and the Art of the Piano

A JOURNEY THROUGH CHOPIN'S TWENTY-SEVEN ÉTUDES, THE FOUNDATION OF VIRTUOSO PIANO TECHNIQUE, REVEALING HOW THE HAND ACTUALLY WORKS, IN THE CONTEXT OF THE HISTORY OF THE PIANO AND THE ROMANTIC MOVEMENT IN MUSIC

© ALAN KOGOSOWSKI 2005 GENIUS OF THE PIANO - ÉTUDE!

CHOPIN'S ÉTUDES AND THE ART OF THE PIANO

Excerpt #1: The Etudes

Alan Kogosowski explains exactly how the piano is played, how the hand works at the keyboard, and what we really mean by 'technique', through an in-depth exploration of the twenty-seven Etudes by Frederic Chopin. Uniquely, this book addresses the physical mechanism shared by all of us - how the hands operate, and how we actually control the movements of our hands, both physically and mentally.

This exposition is pursued in the context of the many influences and people, including composers, pianists, singers, writers and painters, who touched Chopin's life. The story thus unfolds on two levels, the movements of the hand and fingers emerging as an essential physiological investigation counterpointed by a survey of the roles played by the many artists connected with the life of one of the greatest composers of all time.

From the perspective of a performer - one recognized as a unique specialist and authority in the music of the greatest of all composers for the piano - the reader will share the secrets of the virtuoso pianist, as well as relevant historical and biographical background information about the composer. He will also gain an understanding of the development of the piano and the culture surrounding it, as well as the nature and significance of the Romantic movement in European music and culture in general.

The central focus of the series is the unique set of Etudes, or Studies, by Chopin, which constitutes one of the major cornerstones of the piano repertoire. Each Etude deals with a specific question of piano technique, and the set as a whole covers everything a pianist could ever be called upon to do. Kogosowski takes the reader on a journey through the rich terrain of the entire set in the order in which they were published, grouped in twelve chapters in such a way as to reveal a different area of investigation in each. Each chapter thus becomes a self-contained artistic unit within an integral whole, the story building steadily in character development and narrative.

Information about all aspects of performance - physiological, musical and stylistic - is imparted in a way not only of interest to professional and amateur, but to the ordinary reader, who will be 'let in' on the world of the virtuoso, and at the same time learn about physical processes which we all share in common, and about the entirely avoidable danger of Repetitive Strain Injury. This is one of the most fascinating and instructive areas of human creativity, one of relevance and application to everyone, musicians and non-musicians alike. Uncovering the intricacies of piano technique becomes an exciting journey of discovery, the characters of the fingers emerging as intriguingly as the characters of the many colourful personalities in the story.

Read the next excerpt from the book GENIUS OF THE PIANO ÉTUDE! FREDERIC CHOPIN AND THE ART OF THE PIANO:

Excerpt #2: The People ...