No.11 La Bergeronnette
Description
The wagtail of the title is the small bird that bobs its tail at the water's edge and moves in short, quick hops. Music about birds is plentiful; in this eleventh study of Op. 100, Burgmüller converts that movement into a concrete technical task — fast, light repeated figuration.
Small figures hop without pause through little over twenty seconds of C major duple time, packing in more than 240 notes. The note density is among the highest in the collection and there are almost no rests. The dynamic stays low throughout, preserving the bird's lightness.
Carrying fast repeated notes through on a light touch is the skill in question. In a piece this short, a single sluggish note is conspicuous. Keep the fingers low and moving in small motions close to the keys, and release the weight immediately after each stroke rather than leaving it in the key. Before raising the tempo, isolate the hopping figure and check the evenness by ear.
A set of beginner études by Burgmüller, each bearing an evocative title, offering a classic way to develop technique and musical expression together.
Browse all songs in 25 Easy and Progressive Studies Op.100 →Sheet Music
Sheet music provided by Mutopia Project
About the Composer
Johann Friedrich Franz Burgmüller (1806-1874)
Johann Friedrich Franz Burgmuller was born in Germany and spent much of his career in Paris, where he composed the ballet La Peri. He is best remembered today for his pedagogical piano collections, especially the 25 Etudes faciles et progressives, Op. 100, whose accessible, tuneful pieces remain popular with beginning pianists. This site includes Nos. 1 to 18 of the 25 Etudes, Op. 100, beginning with "La Candeur" and "Arabesque."
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