Six Etudes, Opus 52: Piano Book

Name: Six Etudes, Opus 52: Piano Book
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-K09556
Price: 9.99 USD
Availability: InStock

By Camille Saint-Saëns

Level: Intermediate / Advanced

Item: 00-K09556

$9.99

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Titles: No. 1, Prélude * No. 2, Pour L'Indépendance des Doigts * No. 3, Prélude et Fugue * No. 4, Étude de Rhythme * No. 5, Prélude et Fugue * No. 6, En Forme de Valse.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Six Etudes, Opus 52: Piano Book comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

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Series: Kalmus Edition

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 48

ISBN10: 0-7692-5449-7

ISBN13: 978-0-7692-5449-4

UPC: 029156910186

SKU: 00-K09556

More about this title

About the Composer: Camille Saint-Saëns

Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921) was a French composer, organist, and pianist whose technical mastery and elegant musical voice shaped Romantic-era keyboard writing. A child prodigy who performed for royalty and studied organ under Charles-Marie Widor, Saint-Saëns brought conservatory rigor and genuine artistry to everything he touched, from his symphonies and concertos to his chamber works and pedagogical compositions.

These etudes belong to his later years, when he had already established himself as one of Europe's most respected composers. Saint-Saëns wrote for the instrument he knew intimately as a performer, crafting studies that demand not just finger facility but musical intelligence and interpretive maturity.

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Why we love this

Saint-Saëns refuses the false choice between technical exercise and genuine music. Each etude tackles a specific pianistic challenge (finger independence, rhythm, legato, hand crossing) while standing entirely on its own as a concert piece worth hearing. The Kalmus edition makes this essential intermediate-advanced repertoire accessible at a sensible price.

What to expect

Refined, elegant, purposeful. Saint-Saëns' writing sings even when the fingers are working hardest; there is air and light throughout, never a sense of struggle or drudgery. The collection moves from contemplative openings through fiery technical passages to a charming close, with each etude showing a different facet of keyboard artistry.

Who it's for

Pianists working at the intermediate-advanced boundary who are ready to engage serious repertoire alongside their technical studies. Teachers seeking etudes that perform as concert material for recitals, competitions, or studio showcases will find each piece musically satisfying rather than merely useful.

How to get the most out of it

Treat the finger independence study (No. 2) as a speed-building project over time; resist the urge to play it fast before the passage work settles into your hands.
In the two fugal movements, maintain absolute clarity of voice leading without sacrificing the underlying harmonic warmth that Saint-Saëns brings to the form.
Balance the rhythmic precision demanded by No. 4 with the lyrical phrasing that keeps it from becoming mechanical; this is control in service of musicality.
The waltz finale rewards a light, dancing touch; don't let the moderate technical demands flatten the spirit of the piece.

How to use it

Program individual etudes on student recitals or competitions throughout the year as students master them. The two prelude-and-fugue pairs work well alongside Bach or as a bridge between Baroque counterpoint and Romantic expression. The rhythmic etude and waltz make natural choices for a spring recital closer.