BLOOD WILL BE SPILLED! - Chopin's "Revolutionary" Etude in C minor, Op. 10. no. 12 - Analysis

When Chopin had left Poland in 1830 there was a revolution attempt against the Russian rule of the country. This music fits the feelings of a passionate revolution, no matter what the politics are. Pianist Henrik Kilhamn shares his interpretation of the famous Etude for the left hand.
0:00 Uprising!
1:38 Analysis
5:24 Obstacles
7:46 Return
11:11 Coda
(There is no separate performance video at this time)
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Frédéric Chopin: Etude in C minor Op. 10 no. 12 "Revolutionary" (ca 1831)
📄 Score: Schirmer edition, 1895 (reissue 1934), editor: Carl Mikuli, imslp.org
Excerpts: L. van Beethoven:
Piano sonata no. 14 in C# minor, "Moonlight", Op. 27 no. 2, mvt III
Piano sonata no. 23 in F minor, "Appassionata" Op. 57, mvt III
Piano sonata no. 32 in C minor, Op. 111, mvt I
Emoji artwork provided by JoyPixels, joypixels.com

[@caterscarrots3407]

This is definitely Chopin at his most Beethovenian.

[@marshan1226]

That’s debatable, I’m pretty sure it isn’t. Listen to the first movement of his Piano sonata 2, that is more in the style of Beethoven

[@caterscarrots3407]

@@marshan1226 But this piece is very much stylistically connected to the Appassionata Sonata, late Beethoven, Late Beethoven is like sometimes a recall of Mozart and sometimes like the Middle Period taken to a more Romantic Era style. Not just the fast notes, but many other connections as well. These are the connections: Beginning with a diminished seventh chord - In the Appassionata it stays in place for a while, whereas in the Revolutionary Etude, it moves upwards Descending melodic figures outlining chords - In both pieces, the harmonic tones of the descending melodic figures form a simple descending arpeggio, but they are elaborated with neighbor tones Very active bass register - Beethoven tends to have a very active bass anyway, approaching 1:1 in terms of hand importance, but Chopin's bass is often much less active than his melody, with the Revolutionary Etude being an exception for Chopin C minor as a chord - Had to see this coming. In Chopin's case, the key is C minor. In Beethoven's case, C minor is approached by very quick modulation, which Beethoven is a master of modulating within 1 chord Lots of octaves - In the Appassionata, like with most Beethoven pieces, the octaves are mostly tremolos. Beethoven is known to use a lot of octaves in his pieces. In the Revolutionary Etude, the octaves are all staccato. The tempo is very similar, Allegro in terms of the beat, but with the note fury of a Presto. Beethoven even emphasizes this Presto by doing an accelerando in the Coda.

[@hesoxixj]

Literally one of my favorite channels on youtube.

[@jackkrystek1762]

I love the way play and talk about the composers thank you I appreciate it Jack Krystek

[@charlyttospine]

Damn this channel made me fan of romantic piano music. And what a pianist!

[@HotRatsAndTheStooges]

What a great interpretation! Thank you so much. I never knew about the Beethoven inspiration, and you highlighted that really well here. I've been listening and studying this etude for years as it's one of my favorite pieces ever written, and NEVER until now noticed the fanfare that makes up the main melody. Listening back - the fanfare is followed by a response - this could be the revolutionaries shouting a response - could be related to how the shouts are softer at first and then grow in confidence. Also, the part at 5:05 - I never really understood the point of the syncopation here, but your narrative really reveals a great idea. Also the part at 5:49 I've always found to be devastatingly morose. Hearing you say that it sounds triumphant shocked me! To me it's pure despair.

[@SonataSecrets]

Thanks for the comment! Yes, the reply idea can work as well, hadn't thought about that. About 5:49, it might now be as clear-cut triumphant as I make it out, it is a complex place with lots of things happening in a short time there...

[@petroglyph888mcgregor2]

Maybe 5:49 is both. Maybe it's expressing an instant of victory on the battlefield that had come at an even greater cost.

[@erdimtataroglu]

Discovered this channel recently, what a gem! Thanks for all the great content. Can't wait for new videos!

[@trishapaytas5850]

this is one of my fav etudes from chopin its so beautiful i tried playing once and first oage was a success but second.. wasnt i quit cus it was very hard but overall its a veryy great piece and i love it sm

[@SonataSecrets]

Yeah, it's a riveting piece!

[@kalynnscompositions]

I'm so glad you covered the Revolutionary Etude! This is among my favorite Chopin works and I enjoy your style of analysis. Often analysis can become so dry and it's great that you manage to keep a balance between examining both the logical and emotional aspects of music.

[@madcube1581]

Excellent interpretation at the start ♥️

[@madcube1581]

Also that tie looks good

[@madcube1581]

One last thing - At the Coda I noticed there was a jump-cut around ~11.25, quite jarring and slightly takes away from your otherwise beautiful analysis

[@SonataSecrets]

Thanks for the feedback - I thought this was a better solution than when I studdered some wrong word, but I'm not sure. (But if this was the only thing you noticed I'm pleased that the other 20-or-so jump cuts were executed better :p)

[@Walnutpaste]

This channel needs more subscribers.

[@HotRatsAndTheStooges]

Right? It feels like only a matter of time!

[@clementbeaudonnat1381]

Thank you Henrik for the amazing work you do on this channel. You definitely deserve more attention and views. I wish I had a teacher like you when I was learning piano. Your analysis somewhat deep and technical are also very relevant for the non specialists by putting the piece in context and also in comparison with other composers work. I also like your interpretations, delicate and straight to the point without unnecessarily showing of your (very solid) skills. I hope you’ll keep on making videos for a long time.

[@SonataSecrets]

Thank you for your kind words Clémont! I enjoy making them and I have plans to continue in the autumn at least (will do some Liszt and Brahms then).

[@niravpandey4191]

Henrik! This one is great! I am learning this very piece! The new recording format is also awesome!

[@maleph]

Love your channel, content and the way you present it. Thank you very much.

[@rushunnhfernandes]

Wow.. ! I was waiting for this one.. And now that it's here I got to say it's amazing.. 👏

[@SonataSecrets]

Glad you like it!

[@user-mi2sg8bm7t]

It's actually today that I've started learning this etude, thank you so much for such a beautiful surprise :)))

[@SonataSecrets]

My pleasure! Good luck with playing it!

[@widerhorizon]

Currently i'm working on this etude while learning appassionata. Thank you for the explanation☆

[@zyxefalc0n505]

Was waiting for this piece thanks for this analysis

[@jeffreymeijer933]

I literally started working on this piece yesterday! Wow!

[@philip.stigaard]

Gotta perform this next week, nice timing and good video as always! 🤩

[@SonataSecrets]

Good luck!!

[@philip.stigaard]

@@SonataSecrets Thanks, i really appreciate your videos because I learn a lot of new things about pieces I already know 😊 keep the good work up, love from Denmark.

[@revment]

I made a return to classical piano ways after years of playing mostly rock and other styles, and it has been extremely fulfilling to take on pieces I thought I would never be able to play back in my teens. It's improved all aspects of my musicianship and this channel has been invaluable source of education for the last few months so thanks for all this wonderful content. Each video feels like a masterclass!

[@GiovanniPiacentiniMusic]

Excellent presentation. Thank you!

[@beakless_duck]

Awesome! I planned to learn this over the semester break, but I've already gotten thru 80% of it as procrastination during finals season Will be revisiting this video to refine my interpretation once I'm done with exams!

[@khureldeulaanbaatar3958]

finally, a video we've all been waiting for

[@finaxx1261]

one of my favourite videos of yours!

[@PianoDawg1620]

Thank you! This is a perfect analogy, it is also easy to understand.

[@SonataSecrets]

Thanks, I'm glad you liked it!

[@fcb6288]

I would love to be able to play this before i kick the bucket. I just finished Prelude op28 n15, and it took me months to get it to an acceptable level.

[@mohammadbayazid5064]

As always, great video!

[@SonataSecrets]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@AnaPaula-np5rq]

Excellent video with better explanation. Bravo 👏🌻🌻🌻🌻

[@corpseinthesky6111]

Oh thank you, I’ve been waiting for this one! I really like your interpretation, it’s so uplifting at times! Whenever I see analysis of this piece in Polish texts, they usually interpret it as outbursts of despair rather than readiness to fight, and the fanfare moments played with right hand - as shots from muskets. I sort of prefer the more upsetting interpretations as they’re more in accord with how Polish literature of that time was written, but it’s really refreshing to see a more uplifting take !

[@SonataSecrets]

Thanks, I'm glad you like it! I didn't know about this but the dotted rhythm actually makes perfect sense as gunshots. Especially where the main part begins and it's not so melodic, I thought about the fanfare mostly for the first statement and then just carried it with the same rhythm, but it's also different then.

[@cxwsy]

Excellent analysis!

[@SonataSecrets]

Thanks, I'm glad you liked it!

[@Octavio12341000]

Glad to found you. This is culture. Love it

[@TzviErez]

Very well done. Bravo!

[@HWLee-vu4hv]

Very interesting and educational!

[@MarianoStatelloPiano]

Amazing channel & playing! you make it look so easy! jaja

[@johnlewis5330]

Great work. Thanks

[@sergiosolispinson6058]

Wow!! Great analysis, amazing playing! Thanks for sharing! Really looking forward to hear your interpretation video. Btw, you planning on do analysis of Scriabin’s Fantasia op.28? It would be great to see!!

[@SonataSecrets]

Thank you so much Sergio! Unfortunately no performance video of this one (mostly because I'm struggling with all fast repetitions on the upright mechanics). But the Scriabin Fantasie Op. 28 is a better shot, just finished both analysis: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iWS3hH57lqZlntU as well as high-production music video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qXaTpZaJfJuUpsk

[@hesoxixj]

I would love to see an analysis of any chopin’s preludes op. 28 :)

[@SonataSecrets]

I have done no. 4 and 15 last year! kzbin.info/aero/PLwCGt-h2CNnMtrWNbpm7-IvXXxtzc8sDH

[@hesoxixj]

@@SonataSecrets Thank you!!

[@hesoxixj]

maybe 8 or 13 next…?🤭

[@wolfgangvanchopin4093]

measures 28 to 35 are really hard I am stuck here Thanks for this video

[@ViennaDog]

Thank you

[@fernandosuarez5708]

Awesome

[@Ezekiel_Pianist]

Amazing

[@so-sprach-zarathustra]

Hey! I love your videos! Can you maybe film an interpretation of Chopins Op.25. no. 11 "Winter Wind"? Greetings

[@39mamita]

Min 7.39 in left hand the last b changes to one octave upstream and the right hand changes from f to g, it is little more dramatic

[@kyonghan5011]

How satisfying it is to watch those hammer actions in the beginning

[@danielthonk7481]

Clicked as soon as I say op. 10 no 12 on my notification bar lol

[@izabellamardo1074]

Beautful Henrink i love seus vídeos

[@SonataSecrets]

Glad you like them!

[@on-the-spot9467]

Thank you for analysing this piece.! Btw, what is the brand of your piano? its got good sounds.

[@SonataSecrets]

It's an old German Rönisch piano.

[@on-the-spot9467]

@@SonataSecrets Thank you sir. I like your piano very much but even more your analysis and clips of performance. Keep it up.

[@erggish]

question on 12:03... why in Cm, the C7 is V7? or it refers to the dominant of the Fm?

[@ignore5737]

Great video as allways, but i would argue. I dont hear those high minor chords triumphant. For me they are more like the sounds of panic or a terrible event. Like when a comrade just died, or the barricad has been broken, or something like this

[@SonataSecrets]

Yes, someone else commented the same thing as well - I realize might have overreached by calling it triumphant. I was going for the point that it's a climax in the melodic direction, and not only clearly negative for me. But I like your analogy!

[@dragon76vincent16]

very nice! can you cover prokofiev op 4 nr 4 Suggestion Diabolique?

[@SonataSecrets]

Don't know about this piece but will check it out.

[@DomskiPlays]

Man oh man when I hear the chair making cracks it sounds like someone came in the door behind me

[@SonataSecrets]

Hehe I'm sorry about that, it bothers me too especially in the playing parts! Have tried to tighten the screws but it's an old chair that doesn't get better. Might have to buy a new one.

[@DomskiPlays]

@@SonataSecrets haha its fine i just got scared a couple of times in the beginning. Thought someone broke in 😅

[@DLPlanes]

any arpeggios practice technique besides playing them slowly and fingering?

[@TT-uw1os]

Hope the winterwind etude

[@geovaniaguillon3820]

Hermoso

[@billligon4005]

But what are the mechanics of playing the left hand very fast?? How did you achieve your speed of playing?

[@emrosio6151]

Can you please do liebestraum no 3 i would love to hear you analyse it

[@SonataSecrets]

Liszt Liebestraum no. 3 is out now: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i5CkeqCFjMafaLs

[@emrosio6151]

@@SonataSecrets thanks im working on this piece and i wanted your analysis on it

[@andrzejnowak7]

What Chopin thought of Beethoven is a mystery. In speeches and written comments on Beethoven's music, he often expressed far-fetched reservations. But while it is difficult to find in Chopin's compositions any reminiscences of his beloved Mozart, this is not the case with Beethoven.

[@hanneseek4635]

Kan du göra en video på Beethovens sonata op 49 no 1? Älskar din kanal förresten

[@WondrousHello]

Moment musicaux 4 is quite similar to this. Both are great, kinda funny because Rachmaninov is Russian.

[@SonataSecrets]

Yeah, similar kind of energy.

[@moniquethurston4109]

Magnificent Henrik ! Maybe with the volume of work you have done, someone could perhaps sometime distill the Swedish Soul !

[@okay8094]

Are you able to do liszts valle d’Obermann

[@milessafford]

Who are these 8 people who dislike this video….how could you possibly?……

[@Walnutpaste]

i come again for the chopin photo

[@aerad6034]

Can i ask you where does it come from? He has only two confirmed, and this isnt one of them. I've only seen his name under this photo.

[@Walnutpaste]

@@aerad6034 I actually don't even think that image is an accurate depiction of what he looked look like. From my understanding he looked more like a depressed version of Richard Hammond.

[@aerad6034]

@@Walnutpastei guess so. it seems very detailed, like a photograph, so it made me wonder how it became associated with chopin at all

[@VasDavid577]

Hold on. I know that little man right there ( 9:44 ). That's a art made by a romanian youtuber, in his videos where he talks about his past very detailed.

[@SonataSecrets]

That's interesting, can you link the channel? I just got them free for use here: pixabay.com/sv/images/search/stick%20figure/

[@VasDavid577]

@@SonataSecrets sure. Also I have to tell you that it's channel only in romanian

[@VasDavid577]

@@SonataSecrets kzbin.info this is the channel

[@SonataSecrets]

That's cool, thanks! (even though I don't speak Romanian...)

[@VasDavid577]

@@SonataSecrets you're welcome

[@Samuel-Samuel1]

Abow Knas

[@user-cn4vm5ly6k]

These are very very big hands.

[@caterscarrots3407]

You call that chord that starts the piece a G dominant chord and I’ve seen other people call it that and I am always like "Why, it sounds like a diminished seventh chord to me and if you look at the left hand sixteenths, the strong subdivisions are all interweaving vii dim7 with C minor and the G never falls on a strong subdivision or beat in the left hand, it’s always 1 note away from it, so I’m like "is G really the root here? Neighbor motion to Ab doesn’t matter, G could just as easily, maybe more easily be a non-chord tone to vii dim7."

[@SonataSecrets]

Well, it's very much a vii dim7 because of the frequent Ab, but I would still regard it as a V chord as the root, because it serves the function of a V to Cm, and the G is in the chord (and the very first chord in RH is a pure G7 as well). So V-9 actually, I think this shows how V7 and vii-dim7 are very closely related in general.

[@independentpuppy7520]

I bet that's difficult to play.

[@billligon4005]

Why, Why, Why, is this Etude so ‘EASY’ to memorize??

[@Neo_wow]

I will never be able to play this piece 🫠

[@fandantdm7509]

Now war comes back(ww3)

[@user-ds6qj9iu6u]

i think you play it too gently

[@user-ki9ly1uy1w]

Don't play it so fast.

[@ioiomichalicki2911]

Bad playing