Chopin's etude, known as the Revolutionary etude in the key of c minor. It features a powerful combination of fast and furious left hand running passages with right hand intense chords. Towards the end, and after an unexpected change of key to G-flat major, the music suddenly struggles between major and minor keys, ending triumphantly in a powerful "victory" chord of C MAJOR. Chopin did not call the etude "Revolutionary" but it is said to represent the struggle of his native country, Poland, as it was being invaded by Russia. The ending in a big, loud C Major Chord is very meaningful, as it could represent victory to his homeland.

Frederic Chopin (Poland)- Etude op. 10, No.12 in c minor "Revolutionary"

With directions such as furiosamente ("furiously"), violente ("violent"), mordento ("biting"), and salvaggio ("wild"), Ginastera left no doubt as to how the third dance, Danza del gaucho matrero ("Dance of the Arrogant Cowboy"), should be performed. Ginastera makes use of gratuitous dissonance in this piece, opening it with a 12-tone ostinato and frequently using minor seconds to harmonize otherwise simple melodies. The structure is an approximate rondo (ABACDACD), and the thematic material alternates between chromatic passages (sections A and B) and highly tonal, melodic passages (C and D). The jubilant sound of the C section is achieved by harmonising every single melody note with a major chord, even if they are totally foreign to the tonic key. The D section, by contrast, does not use a single accidental; here, jubilance is expressed through the use of brisk tempo, strong rhythm, fortissimo, and a simple, majestic chord progression. As might be expected from the savageness of the rest of the piece, the coda is anything but subtle: ffff dynamics and a tremendous glissando bring the dance to a close.

Alberto Ginastera (Argentina) - The Arrogant Cowboy

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Alberto Ginastera (Argentina) - The Arrogant Cowboy

Martin Soderberg

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