Scherzos (Chopin)

Autograph manuscript of Scherzo No. 4, Op. 54 in E major, 1842–1843, Biblioteka Jagiellońska, Kraków

Frédéric Chopin's four scherzos (or scherzi) are single-movement pieces for solo piano, composed between 1833 and 1843. They are often linked to Chopin's four ballades, composed in roughly the same period; these works are examples of large scale autonomous musical pieces, composed within the classical framework, but surpassing previous expressive and technical limitations. Unlike the classical model, the musical form adopted by Chopin is not characterised by humour or elements of surprise, but by highly charged "gestures of despair and demonic energy".[1] Commenting on the first scherzo, Robert Schumann wrote: "How is 'gravity' to clothe itself if 'jest' goes about in dark veils?"[2][a]

  1. ^ Chopin, Frédéric (2018). Müllemann, Norbert (ed.). Scherzi, Urtext Edition (PDF) (in German and English). München: Henle-Verlag. pp. IX–XIV. ISMN 979-0-2018-0887-1.
  2. ^ Niecks, Frederick (2009). Frédéric Chopin as a Man and Musician. Echo Library. p. 494. ISBN 1-4068-5229-5 (originally published in 1888). Retrieved 30 August 2010.


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