A C minor etude by Colin Peter Snuggs, exploring deep emotional resonance through expanded harmonic intervals. The piece requires a flexible wrist to navigate its wider hand positions.
At Henle 4 this is an intermediate piece that expects secure technique and real attention to phrasing. The main demands: a left hand with real melodic or rhythmic responsibility of its own; wide stretches that reward larger hands and clever redistribution; and rubato that must breathe naturally without losing the pulse.
Be mindful of tension; ensure wide chords are rolled or blocked with a relaxed wrist to avoid fatigue.
Comparable difficulty and character — good candidates for what to learn next.
A level or two down with the same spirit — ideal if this piece is still out of reach.
Where this piece's skills lead: slightly harder works making similar technical demands.
Lesser-known works by the same hand, at a comparable level.
Etude No.2 in C minor is rated Henle level 4 of 9 — intermediate repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 5–6. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 5.
You should be comfortable at Henle level 4 — meaning you can already play level 3–4 pieces cleanly. Learning it one level early is possible as a stretch piece, but more than that usually leads to months of frustration.
A typical performance of Etude No.2 in C minor lasts about 3 minutes.
Etude No.2 in C minor is available as free public-domain sheet music on IMSLP — the score is linked directly from this page.
Pieces at a comparable difficulty and character include Etude No. 17 in B flat minor by Colin Peter Snuggs, Etude No.7 in E-flat major by Colin Peter Snuggs, Etude No. 10 F major by Colin Peter Snuggs — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.