Chopin: Scherzos, Opp. 20, 31, 39, 54 Cover Image

Chopin: Scherzos, Opp. 20, 31, 39, 54: Piano Book

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Chopin: Scherzos, Opp. 20, 31, 39, 54 Cover Image
Chopin: Scherzos, Opp. 20, 31, 39, 54: Piano Book

Chopin: Scherzos, Opp. 20, 31, 39, 54: Piano Book

By Frédéric Chopin / ed. Joseph Banowetz

Level: Advanced

Item: 00-45324
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Description
Frédéric Chopin's Scherzos are a staple of the piano repertoire. In them, Chopin abandons the lighthearted scherzo form of the Classical period to capture powerful emotions. Scherzo No. 1, Op. 20, was composed between 1830 and 1831, around the same time as his Études, Op. 10, and Ballad No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 23. Scherzo No. 2, Op. 31, was composed between 1835 and 1837. It may be the most famous of the set, and has a memorable opening of hushed, questioning notes followed by dramatic, loud chords. Scherzo No. 3, Op. 39, was composed in 1839 while Chopin was on a winter trip to Mallorca. It was dedicated to Chopin's pupil Adolf Gutmann. Scherzo No. 4, Op. 54, was composed in 1842. It is the only Scherzo in a major key.

This newly engraved edition has been thoroughly researched, with comparisons made between early sources, including the two existing manuscripts for Scherzos 2 and 4. Chopin's fingerings, which have been preserved from copies used by his students, have been included (marked in italics), as well as editorial fingering suggestions. Prefatory matter includes critical notes and performance suggestions, discussion of rubato, and examples of Chopin's ornamentation with suggested realizations. Detailed analysis of the form of each Scherzo is also provided.

Joseph Banowetz has been described in Fanfare Record Review (U.S.) as "a giant among keyboard artists of our time" and by Ruch Muzyczny (Warsaw) as "a virtuoso in the noblest sense of the word." He has been heard as recitalist and orchestral soloist on five continents, in over 35 countries. Banowetz has internationally released over 35 commercial recordings, two of which have received finalist Grammy nominations. Banowetz is a graduate from the Vienna Academy for Music and Dramatic Arts. Among his teachers have been Carl Friedberg (a pupil of Clara Schumann's) and György Sándor (a pupil of Béla Bartók's). Currently, Banowetz is Professor of Piano Performance at the College of Music of the University of North Texas. For more information, visit www.jmbanowetz.com.

This edition is a winner of the 2017 Music Publishers Association Paul Revere Awards For Graphic Excellence.

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Additional Details
Series: Alfred Masterwork Edition
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 108
ISBN10: 1-4706-3448-1
ISBN13: 978-1-4706-3448-3
UPC: 038081521145
SKU: 00-45324

More about this title

About the Composer: Frédéric Chopin

Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849) fundamentally reshaped the piano's artistic possibilities. A composer of extraordinary lyrical gift, he created a body of work that transformed the instrument from a vehicle for virtuosic display into a voice for intimate expression. His innovations in harmony, rubato, and pianistic texture became the foundation of modern piano technique and Romantic music itself.

Chopin's four Scherzos stand apart from the salon pieces and nocturnes for which he is sometimes pigeonholed. These large-scale concert works demand extraordinary technical command alongside genuine interpretive maturity. They remain central to any serious pianist's engagement with the Romantic era and essential repertoire for anyone seeking to understand how the piano evolved as a concert instrument.

Why we love this

This Alfred Masterwork Edition serves advanced pianists with the scholarly apparatus they need to move beyond surface virtuosity into genuine musical understanding. The inclusion of Chopin's own fingerings (preserved from his students' copies), critical notes comparing early manuscript sources, and detailed formal analysis makes this edition a thinking musician's score rather than a competition showpiece. Banowetz's prefatory discussion of rubato and ornamentation directly addresses the interpretive questions that make Chopin's music so rewarding to teach.

What to expect

Chopin's Scherzos inhabit a world far removed from the Classical era's playful character movements. These are intense, dramatically charged works that swing between moments of stark introspection and brilliant, almost violent outbursts of energy. The Op. 39 carries the particular atmosphere of his Mallorca winter—atmospheric and brooding; the Op. 54 alone stands in major tonality, offering a different kind of brilliance that feels like defiant joy rather than melancholy.

Who it's for

Advanced pianists preparing this repertoire for recital or competition will find the scholarly depth and Chopin-sourced fingerings invaluable. Teachers working with advanced students benefit from the analytical framework and performance guidance that elevate beyond merely technical preparation. This edition serves anyone committed to understanding these masterworks at a level that matches their technical demands.

How to get the most out of it

  • Study the provided ornamentation examples and suggested realizations before deciding on your own approach; Chopin's decorative figures demand clarity and must never obscure the harmonic intent.
  • Respect Chopin's own fingerings (italicized in this edition) as interpretive guides, not mere technical solutions; they often reveal his preferred voice-leading and phrasing architecture.
  • Work the rubato discussion in the prefatory material alongside score study; these pieces collapse without flexible, sensitive tempo manipulation that reflects the harmonic rhythm.
  • Pay close attention to the formal analysis provided for each Scherzo; understanding the architectural relationships between sections is essential for coherent performance across these substantial forms.

How to use it

Program these Scherzos as substantial concert works rather than paired with lightweight pieces. A recital featuring one complete Scherzo alongside works from different eras creates a satisfying evening that showcases both Romantic virtuosity and thoughtful artistry. Individual Scherzos also serve well as contest repertoire where serious interpretive work and technical command are both valued.

Skills your students will build

  • Large-scale formal architecture and development (exposition, variation, recapitulation across extended forms)
  • Interpretive use of rubato and tempo flexibility in service of harmonic rhythm
  • Ornamentation realization and its relationship to structure
  • Pedal technique that creates color without muddying harmonic clarity
  • Coordination of simultaneous technical challenges (rapid passage work with legato singing lines)
  • Source study and comparative analysis (understanding the value of manuscript research to interpretation)

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