Étude Op. 25 No. 2 in F minor “The Bees”

Frédéric Chopin · Level 5 (Advanced) · Romantic · Piano

A whispered étude (1836): a continuous stream of pianissimo eighth-note triplets in the right hand, in cross-rhythm against left-hand quarter notes. A work by Chopin, the poet of the Romantic piano. F minor, 2/2, 70 bars (about 5 minutes), complete score.

▶ Play this piece with the interactive score

How to practise it

• Listen first: the site plays it while the score scrolls.
• Wait mode: the score waits for you at every note, at your own pace.
• Tempo challenge: play in time, with a score and a map of the bars you got right.
• The two grace notes of the source are not written here. Keep the right hand very close to the keys and think in long two-bar phrases. Supple, precise left hand and singing melody; rubato only once the notes are secure. Key signature with 4 flats: name them aloud before playing and spot the places where accidentals cancel them. The piece starts with a pickup: count the incomplete bar before coming in.

More pieces by Frédéric Chopin

• Prelude Op. 28 No. 9 in E major
• Prelude Op. 28 No. 4 in E minor
• Prelude Op. 28 No. 6 in B minor
• Prelude Op. 28 No. 20 in C minor
• Mazurka in G-sharp minor Op. 33 No. 1
• Prelude Op. 28 No. 10 in C-sharp minor
• Prelude Op. 28 No. 11 in B major
• Prelude Op. 28 No. 14 in E-flat minor

Source : Mutopia Project · Public Domain