Of the fourth study in A minor there is little to add to Theodor
Kullak, who writes:
"In the broadest sense of the word, every piece of music is an
etude. In a narrower sense, however, we demand of an etude
that it shall have a special end in view, promote facility in
something, and lead to the conquest of some particular
difficulty, whether of technics, of rhythm, expression or
delivery." (Robert Schumann, Collected Writings, i., 201.) The
present study is less interesting from a technical than a
rhythmical point of view. While the chief beats of the measure
(1st, 3d, 5th and 7th eighths) are represented only by single
tones (in the bass part), which are to a certain extent "free
and unconcerned, and void of all encumbrance," the inferior
parts of the measure (2d, 4th, 6th and 8th eighths) are
burdened with chords, the most of which, moreover, are
provided with accents in opposition to the regular beats of
the measure. Further, there is associated with these chords,
or there may be said to grow out of them, a cantilene in the
upper voice, which appears in syncopated form opposite to the
strong beats of the bass.
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