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"

Ernesto Lecuona (1885 - 1963) was the son of a newspaper reporter from the Canary Islands who settled in Cuba – Child prodigy- Studied with Joaquin Nin and later with Ravel in Paris- Wrote many vocal works, including Zarzuelas (a type of Spanish Operetta), but also many piano pieces –  He introduced the first Latin orchestra in the USA, the Lecuona Cuban Boys in the 1930’s. 

Lecuona’s piano music is unique in its blend of elements. His style features a mostly European harmonic vocabulary, and a romantic pianistic treatment with native and African-Cuban  rhythms and folkloric elements. 

Y LA NEGRA BAILABA (And the black lady danced) is part of the Afro-Cuban Dances.

Secion A – Starts  with a drumming, percussive effect in left hand with a constant rhythmic pattern, which features a very syncopated rhythm. The melody is first presented loud and played in chords, over a very rhythmical left hand accompaniment.

Section B – A very short section B in very fast octaves, seems to interrupt the hypnotic dance, as if to take a break from it. A new rhythmic pattern is introduced in the left hand, and the fast octaves present a technical challenge to the performer, but it all leads back to the fast and furious section A, starting out very loud but getting softer and softer to the end, where the last two chords in fortissimo seem to say, It’s the end!.

Ernesto Lecuona (Cuba)- Y La Negra Bailaba

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Ernesto Lecuona (Cuba)- Y La Negra Bailaba

Martin Soderberg

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