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"

An Etude is a technical piece with some level of difficulty or challenge at a technical or musical level.  A Zamba is a folkloric dance from Argentina. With his Etude in Zamba, Rafael Landestoy, a composer from the Dominican  Republic, proves that a traditional European concept like the piano etude can be merged with a typical South American  dance.  The level of difficulty of this etude is not that high, but the melody in the right hand is presented with a chord that is holding down the thumbs, leaving only the "weak" fingers 4 and 5  to play most of the notes of the melody, not an easy task if you want to play the melody smoothly and beautifully. It requires strength and evenness in those weak fingers.  Composers like Chopin used this concept of "forcing the weak fingers to play entire etudes". This piece is a GEM of the Latin American repertoire.

Rafael Landestoy (Dominican Republic)- Estudio en Zamba

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Rafael Landestoy (Dominican Republic)- Estudio en Zamba

Martin Soderberg

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