Godowsky Study 12a - Chopin's Op 10 No 5 (Black Key Etude) for left hand alone

Pianist: Daniel Brown
Why this piece? Because I love it! And it doesn't get enough love.

Hamelin says it's one of the most "intractable" LH studies, Grante says it's the least interesting of Godowsky's 10/5 studies, Madge made a hot mess of it, and it's "passed over" for recording by most everyone who records a "selection" of the studies (Berezovsky, Saperton, Hobson, Bolet, etc.)

But, David Stanhope did great work with it (the best so far,) and Raoul Sosa has recorded it (left-hand champion pianist, I haven't heard his yet.)

Anyway, here's my take. It feels like magic playing this. It's the most difficult stuff I've ever given my left hand and I'm proud of what it managed to accomplish.

As intractable as Hamelin says, the part writing is nothing but "correct" for the entire study. Godowsky's writing is very well balanced and Chopin's original left hand part could have been written with much thicker textures than what there are. Once you get past the fact that Godowsky chose this for a left-hand setting in the FIRST place, you notice it's the best anyone could have done.

Category:

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[cskrenta]

Good job!

[NPO87]

Great job!

Your piano skills always impress me!

[Sorcerer88]

nice one! i love left hand pieces and godowsky's studies, it's great that you took all the practice to learn this piece. now i propose you keep practicing it and get it close to full speed, it'll be a great reward! i'm considering myself to learn a piece for left hand alone since a long time, just don't know which yet! i've sight-read through most of Lewenthal's collection of LH music though, i highly recommend it!

[OparioMcgee]

Very impressive work on an interesting and emotional take of this excellent, unique piece. I love how the bust features so prominently.