- published: 12 Jun 2013
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An étude (/ ˈeɪtjuːd /; French pronunciation: [eˈtyd], a French word meaning study) is an instrumental musical composition, most commonly of considerable difficulty, usually designed to provide practice material for perfecting a particular technical skill. The tradition of writing études emerged in the early 19th century with the rapidly growing popularity of the piano. Of the vast number of études from that era some are still used as teaching material (particularly pieces by Carl Czerny and Muzio Clementi), and a few, by major composers such as Frédéric Chopin, Franz Liszt, Claude Debussy and Charles-Valentin Alkan, achieved a place in today's concert repertory. Composers of the 20th century variously composed études related to the old tradition (György Ligeti), études that required wholly unorthodox technique (John Cage), and études that required unusually facile technique.
Studies, "lessons" and other didactic instrumental pieces composed before the 19th century are very varied, without any established genres. The pieces in lute instruction books, such as the celebrated Varietie of Lute-Lessons (1610), may be arranged in order of increasing difficulty, but will usually include both simple teaching pieces and masterworks by renowned composers. Domenico Scarlatti's 30 Essercizi per gravicembalo ("30 Exercises for harpsichord", 1738) do not differ in scope from his other keyboard works, and Johann Sebastian Bach's four volumes of Clavier-Übung ("keyboard practice") contain everything from simple organ duets to the extensive and difficult Goldberg Variations.
Evgeny Igorevitch Kissin (Russian: Евге́ний И́горевич Ки́син Yevgeniy Igorevich Kisin; born 10 October 1971) is a Russian classical pianist. He first came to international fame as a child prodigy. He has been a British citizen since 2002. He is especially known for his interpretations of the works of the Romantic repertoire, particularly Frédéric Chopin, Rachmaninoff and Franz Liszt.
Kissin was born in Moscow to a Russian Jewish family. Recognized as a child prodigy, at age six, he began piano studies at the esteemed Gnessin School of Music for Gifted Children. At the school, he became a student of Anna Kantor, who remained Kissin's only piano teacher.
I've heard a lot of stories
So tell me if they're true
Oh I would die for you
Knowing that you're mine
You tell me that you're sorry
You say your heart is new
Oh I will cry for you
Call me and we'll dine
It's almost over Lorraine
Can you still feel the pain
Do you still want me to love you
It's such a funny day
Whoah oh oh
It's such a funny day
Tonight we sail for Paris
Where the streets are paved with gold
Your eyes have blessed my soul
Your lips, they've blessed the wine
We'll tame the Gulf of Lyons
I'll wed thee in Marseilles
We'll turn the moon to blood
If only there were time
It's almost over Lorraine
Can you still feel the pain
Do you still want me to love you
It's such a funny day
Whoah oh oh