Description
Through C major and 2/4, the right hand races up and down in scales of thirty-second notes. About half of the right hand's notes are thirty-seconds, while the left hand marks chords in eighth notes, sounding a bass note here and there. For the last 16 of its 40 bars the key signature changes to three flats for C minor, in which it ends. It lasts about 57 seconds, with 579 notes.
Like No. 1 of Op. 840 it moves from C major to C minor, but here finger work is placed at the centre of the task.
It is rated beginner, but evening out thirty-second-note scales calls for a secure thumb-under. Decide where the thumb passes and keep the hand from jumping in the middle of a scale. Slow the playback to hear whether the notes are even, loop just the fast passages with an A-B loop, then go back to the whole piece. Also check in the score view where major gives way to minor. The range runs from G2 to C7, which just fits a 61-key keyboard.
A set of melodious studies by Czerny covering all 24 keys, valued as a way to develop technique and musicality at the same time.
Browse all songs in 50 Melodious Studies Op.840 →Sheet Music
Sheet music provided by Mutopia Project
About the Composer
Carl Czerny (1791-1857)
Carl Czerny was a Viennese pianist and composer who studied under Beethoven and later taught Franz Liszt. He is best known for his enormous output of piano etudes, which remain widely used in piano pedagogy around the world today. This site includes selections from the 160 Eight-Measure Exercises, Op. 821, and the 50 Progressive Studies in All Keys, Op. 840.
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