Johann Nepomuk Hummel(1778-1837)
24 ETUDES,Op.125

 The gathering was published in 1833, a few months after Chopin's Op.10, but, as is often the case with Hummel, that does not correspond to the date of composition.
 We know for certain that 18 of etudes had been completed by 1828; he is said to have played them before Chopin that same year in Warsaw.
 These 24 etudes give a sort of panorama of Hummel's palettes of inspiration.  Reminiscences of Bach(No.6), Scarlatti(No.20), a foretaste of the style of Schumann(No.7), of Chopin(No.10), and a moving tribute to Mozart(No.24).
 The pieces are of great quality and prove, if necessary, that Hummel, round about 1830, was not, as some assert, a musician of the past. (JEAN-PIERRE AUMAIRE)
 They are written in the 24-keys following the circle of fifths, the major preceding the minor, in an ascending arrangement.

<File-1>
Etude No.1-Allegro in C, 4/4, "scales"
Etude No.2-Allegro non troppo in Cm, 3/4, "small notes and varieties of touch"
Etude No.3-Tempo di Polacca in G, 3/4, "thirds"
Etude No.4-Grave non troppo in Gm, 2/4, "rhythm = a la Francis"
Etude No.5-Allegro con brio in D, 4/4, "arpeggios, one hand at a time, and various virtuosic passages"
Etude No.6-Allegro moderato in Dm, 4/4, "fughetta: separate voices"

<File-2>
Etude No.7-Andante cantabile in A, 4/4, "tied contrapuntal technique"
Etude No.8-Vivace in Am, 6/8, "rapid, light octaves"
Etude No.9-Aleegro spiritoso in E, 4/4, "alternating chords and virtuosic passages"
Etude No.10-Allegro comodo in Em, 6/8, "appoggiaturas and runs"
Etude No.11-Allegro ma cantabile in B, 4/4, "legato in the medium register"
Etude No.12-Allegro moderato assai in Bm, 4/4, "isolated melody, semiquaver accompaniment"

<File-3>
Etude No.13-Allegro moderato in F#, 2/4, "mordents"
Etude No.14-Allegro con fuoco in F#m, 4/4, "broken octaves and chords - much frenzy and rage"
Etude No.15-Allegro moderato in Db, 2/4, "interaction between the melodies, triplets, thirds"
Etude No.16-Adagio sostenuto in C#m, 2/4, "variety of colors in the Adagio"
Etude No.17-Allegro Brillante in Ab, 2/4, "rapid little skips"
Etude No.18-Allegretto in G#m, 6/16, "swinging, syncopated melody"

<File-4>
Etude No.19-Allegro in Eb, 2/4, "fast, dotted rhythm"
Etude No.20-Allegro moderato in Ebm, 4/4, "repeated notes on the right, crossing of left hand"
Etude No.21-Allegro moderato in Bb, 4/4, "both hands crossed, virtuosic passages in the background"
Etude No.22-Adagio in Bbm, 2/4, "fioriture and trills in the Adagio"
Etude No.23-Vivace in F, 6/8, "rapidly repeated notes and chords"
Etude No.24-Larghetto in Fm, 3/4, "fughetta: contrasts in sonority and register"

(MIKIO TAO / Dec.1999)