The famous (notorious) Etudes
Godowsky's most famous work in this genre is the 53 Studies on Chopin's Études (1894–1914), in which he varies the (already challenging) original études using various methods: introducing countermelodies,
transferring the technically difficult passages from the right hand to
the left, transcribing an entire piece for left hand solo, or even
interweaving two études, with the left hand playing one and the right
hand the other.
The pieces are among the most difficult piano works ever written, and only a few pianists have ventured to perform any of them. Among such pianists are Marc-André Hamelin, who recorded the entire set and garnered a number of prestigious awards. Other pianists who frequently perform Godowsky are Boris Berezovsky and Konstantin Scherbakov.
The pieces are among the most difficult piano works ever written, and only a few pianists have ventured to perform any of them. Among such pianists are Marc-André Hamelin, who recorded the entire set and garnered a number of prestigious awards. Other pianists who frequently perform Godowsky are Boris Berezovsky and Konstantin Scherbakov.