12 Characteristic Études for Concert Performance, Op. 12 / 12 Salon Études

A book from the Prism Piano Scores series. This is a collection of Romantic concert études by Henselt. Henselt's piano works were performed by renowned 19th-century masters such as Clara Schumann, Liszt, and Scriabin. Regarding these two collections of études, Rachmaninoff praised them as "as beautiful as the études of Liszt and Chopin." In recent years, Mitsuyuki Tadoro Marcel has recorded all the pieces.

There are sun-fading marks on the spine. I have checked the inside thoroughly, but found no writing. Please forgive any minor oversights. There is a faint, unique smell when you bring your nose close to the pages. I don't notice the smell when just looking at it, but it lingers slightly when turning the pages.

Composer: Adolf von Henselt
Edited and annotated by: Itaru Haba
Price: 2750 yen

● Two collections of études filled with the poetic sensibility of Adolf von Henselt, the piano virtuoso whom Franz Liszt envied.

Adolf von Henselt (German-Russian, 1814-1889) was, along with Chopin, Liszt, Alkan, and Thalberg, a central figure in Romantic piano music. He composed within the limits of piano technique and expression at the time, expanding the horizons of Romantic piano music. At the same time, he resided in St. Petersburg and reigned as the founder of the Russian piano school (Russian pianism), a composer who had a great influence on later generations. The études of Op. 2 and Op. 5 included in this book are his major works. These two sets of études each consist of 12 pieces, forming a cycle that covers all major and minor keys. They are important collections of études that should not be overlooked in the history of piano music. In "12 Characteristic Concert Études" of Op. 2, short French poems are added to each piece instead of titles, indicating the characteristics of each piece. They are distinct from mere études aimed at technical training, with each piece having its own independent musical characteristics and filled with poetic sensibility. "12 Salon Études" of Op. 5, contrary to the title's light impression of "salon," is a highly effective work that boldly develops Henselt's style, such as the frequent use of octaves, arpeggios, legato playing, and the way of singing melody lines through their combinations.

/Hobbies & Entertainment