12 Etudes in All the Minor Keys

Charles-Valentin AlkanOp.39

RomanticSpecialistetude~60 min
H9
Henle (estimated)
RCM 10ABRSM 9

About this piece

Alkan's 'Etudes in All the Minor Keys' are renowned for their extreme difficulty and profound musical content, particularly the 'Concerto da camera' and the symphonic etude. These works represent a peak of Romantic pianism.

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Teacher notes

Demands exceptional technical command, including massive chordal passages and complex polyphonic textures.

Technical focus

finger-independencespeed-agilityarpeggioslarge-chordsleft-hand-independence

Mood

dramaticpowerfulintellectualmysterious

Your status

Not in your repertoire

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Free sheet music on IMSLP

Frequently asked questions

How hard is 12 Etudes in All the Minor Keys (Op.39) by Charles-Valentin Alkan?

12 Etudes in All the Minor Keys (Op.39) is rated Henle level 9 of 9 — virtuoso repertoire, roughly concert / virtuoso level. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 10.

What level do I need to play 12 Etudes in All the Minor Keys?

You should be comfortable at Henle level 9 — meaning you can already play level 8–9 pieces cleanly. Learning it one level early is possible as a stretch piece, but more than that usually leads to months of frustration.

How long is 12 Etudes in All the Minor Keys?

A typical performance of 12 Etudes in All the Minor Keys (Op.39) lasts about 60 minutes.

Where can I get free sheet music for 12 Etudes in All the Minor Keys?

12 Etudes in All the Minor Keys (Op.39) is available as free public-domain sheet music on IMSLP — the score is linked directly from this page.