Chopin: Étude Op. 25 No. 5 [Horowitz 1989]

October & November 1989: 14 East 94th Street, New York City, New York (Studio) Selected Chopin Études:    • Selected Chopin Études (Horowitz)   Horowitz plays Chopin:    • Horowitz plays Chopin   The Études by Frédéric Chopin are three sets of études (solo studies) for the piano published during the 1830s. There are twenty-seven compositions overall, comprising two separate collections of twelve, numbered Op. 10 and Op. 25, and a set of three without opus number. Chopin's Études not only presented an entirely new set of technical challenges but were the first to become a regular part of the concert repertoire. His études combine musical substance and technical challenges to form a complete artistic form. Chopin's second set of Études was published in 1837, and dedicated to Franz Liszt's mistress, Marie d'Agoult. No. 5 in E minor is composed in 1837. Marking a serious departure in the expected technique developed previously, Chopin wrote this étude with a series of quick, dissonant minor seconds. The effect has earned the étude the nickname "Wrong Note". After the first theme of 'minor seconds' closes, Chopin introduces a Più Lento section in which a new melody (without dissonant minor seconds) is played in the parallel key, E major. Such structure, surrounding a major second theme, with the minor main theme is unusual overall. The final section of the piece starts with a recapitulation of the first theme, with climaxes in a coda played in E Major. Horowitz's this recording is characterized by a light and clear note transmission.