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The Feasibility of Studies

Studies. How did these musically barren finger exercises, the bane of many a pianist's life, evolve into concentrated miniature masterpieces by some of the great composers?

Studies began life as an aid in the struggle to master the piano within the human limitations of two hands and ten fingers. But from being the bane of many a pianist's life and a means of selling more pianos, these arid technical exercises flowered into some of the greatest music written for piano from Chopin, though Debussy to György Ligeti. And in Conlon Nancarrow's studies for player piano, they even inspired the greatest set of keyboard works beyond any human ability.

To find out how and why studies evolved to transcend their original function, Tom Service is joined by musicologist Katy Hamilton and talks to Pierre-Laurent Aimard who worked closely with Ligeti on his extraordinary series of studies, widely regarded as some of the greatest piano music of the 20th century.

David Papp (producer)

Available now

30 minutes

Last on

Fri 26 Feb 2021 16:30
±«Óătv Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Charles-Louis Hanon

    The Virtuoso Pianist in 60 Exercises

    Performer: Alan Chan.

  • Franz Schubert

    4 Impromptus D.899; No.2 in E Flat Major

    Performer: Radu Lupu.
    • Decca.
    • 4609752.

  • Charles-Louis Hanon

    The Virtuoso Pianist in 60 Exercises

    Performer: Alan Chan.

  • FrĂ©dĂ©ric Chopin

    12 Studies Op.10; No.5 in G flat major 'Black Key Study'

    Performer: Maurizio Pollini.
    • DG.
    • 413794-2.

  • Alexander Scriabin

    Study in D sharp minor, Op 8 No 12

    Performer: Evgeny Kissin.
    • Erato.
    • 2564607804.

  • Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji

    100 Transcendental studies for piano

    Performer: Fredrik Ullén.
    • BIS.
    • BIS CD-1373.

  • Ruth Crawford Seeger

    Study in mixed accents

    Performer: Jenny Lin.
    • Sono Luminus.
    • DSL-92236.

  • Conlon Nancarrow

    Study no. 21 for player piano

    • Other minds.
    • OM1012/15-2.

  • Muzio Clementi

    Gradus ad Parnassum, Op. 44; No. 1. Con velocita

    Performer: Alessandro Marangoni.
    • Naxos.
    • 8572325.

  • Muzio Clementi

    Gradus ad Parnassum, Op. 44; No. 13. Suite of 4 Pieces: II. Fuga: Allegro non troppo

    Performer: Alessandro Marangoni.
    • Naxos.
    • 8572325.

  • Muzio Clementi

    Gradus ad Parnassum, Op. 44; No. 39. Suite of 5 Pieces: III. Scena patetica: Adagio con grand espressione

    Performer: Alessandro Marangoni.
    • Naxos.
    • 8572326.

  • Muzio Clementi

    Gradus ad Parnassum, Op. 44; No. 48 Velocissimo

    Performer: Alessandro Marangoni.
    • Naxos.
    • 8572327.

  • Muzio Clementi

    Gradus ad Parnassum, Op. 44; No. 16 Veloce

    Performer: Alessandro Marangoni.
    • Naxos.
    • 8572325.

  • Claude Debussy

    Children's corner; No. 1 Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum

    Performer: Jean-Efflam Bavouzet.
    • Chandos.
    • CHAN10467.

  • Claude Debussy

    12 Studies for piano; No. 1 Pour les "cinq doigts" d'aprĂšs M. Czerny

  • Carl Czerny

    Die Kunst der Fingerfertigkeit Op.740; Etude No. 1 Mouvement des doigts en tenant la main tranquille

    Performer: Fred Oldenburg.
    • Brilliant Classics.
    • 92457.

  • FrĂ©dĂ©ric Chopin

    12 Studies Op.10; No.1 in C

    Performer: Maurizio Pollini.
    • DG.
    • 413794-2.

  • FrĂ©dĂ©ric Chopin

    12 Studies Op.2; No.1 In A Flat ‘Harp Study’

    Performer: Maurizio Pollini.
    • DG.
    • 413794-2.

  • FrĂ©dĂ©ric Chopin

    12 Studies Op.25; No.9 In G Flat ‘Butterfly Wings’

    Performer: Maurizio Pollini.
    • DG.
    • 413794-2.

  • FrĂ©dĂ©ric Chopin

    12 Studies Op.10; No.12 In C Minor ‘Revolutionary’

    Performer: Maurizio Pollini.
    • DG.
    • 413794-2.

  • FrĂ©dĂ©ric Chopin

    12 Studies Op.25; No.11 in A minor ‘Winter Wind’

    Performer: Maurizio Pollini.
    • DG.
    • 413794-2.

  • Franz Liszt

    Etudes d'execution transcendante S.139; No.12 in B flat minor Chasse-neige

    Performer: Nikolai Lugansky.
    • Naive.
    • AM205.

  • FrĂ©dĂ©ric Chopin

    12 Studies Op.10; No. 1 in C major

    Performer: Boris Berezovsky.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 2564622582.

  • FrĂ©dĂ©ric Chopin

    53 Studies on Chopin's Etudes No.1 in C major, 'Diatonisch'

    Composer: Leopold Godowsky. Performer: Boris Berezovsky.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 2564622582.

  • Conlon Nancarrow

    Study for Player Piano No.37

    Performer: Conlon Nancarrow (1912 - 1997).
    • Other minds.
    • OM1012/15-2.

  • Gyorgy Ligeti

    Fanfares (Studies, Book 1)

    Performer: Pierre‐Laurent Aimard.
    • SONY.
    • SK62308.

  • Gyorgy Ligeti

    DĂ©sordre (Studies, Book 1)

    Performer: Pierre‐Laurent Aimard.
    • SONY.
    • SK62308.

  • Gyorgy Ligeti

    Vertige (Studies, Book 2)

    Performer: Pierre‐Laurent Aimard.
    • SONY.
    • SK62308.

  • Charles-Louis Hanon

    The Virtuoso Pianist in 60 Exercises

    Performer: Alan Chan.

Broadcasts

  • Sun 21 Feb 2021 17:00
    ±«Óătv Radio 3
  • Fri 26 Feb 2021 16:30
    ±«Óătv Radio 3

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