Wojciech Albert Sowinski

12 Etudes melodiques op. 124

Twelve melodic etudes for piano: aimed at facilitating work on style and performance, op. 124 is part of the great nineteenth-century tradition of composing pedagogical etudes and will prove excellent if used in this way.

The pieces present a medium degree of difficulty, they are characterised by a compact structure and a strong melodic component, in which one can often find inspiration in Polish music. They refer to the achievements of the two pillars of piano pedagogy: the Czerny school and the Clementi school, but they also take account of the specific style of French pianism, derived directly from the virtuosity of harpsichordists. They are dominated by features of the salon brilliant style, but a considerable variety of types of texture and modes of figuration can be found in them as well. Such a form is aimed at a comprehensive development of the student's piano technique as well as at an expressive variety which requires appropriate adjustment of expression and sound. The collection includes pieces developing fine fingering technique as well as passages, double notes (thirds and sixths) and octaves - including broken octaves.

Softcover.