Anton Arensky - 12 Etudes Op. 74 (audio + sheet music)

Despite his health already failing (presumably from too much drinking), and already living off from his pension after retiring from his post as director of the Imperial Choir in St. Petersburg, Anton Arensky was still very much active in composing, as seen here in his 12 Etudes for piano solo, composed a year before his death. These pieces, arranged almost in rising chromatic order, are indeed no joke, as he made sure to encompass certain techniques. No. 1 in C, No. 7 in E-flat, and No. 11 in A-flat focus on the melody, accompaniment and bassline being passed on both hands. No. 2 in C minor has a right hand melody accompanied by a constant stream of demisemiquavers on the left hand whirlwinding throughout. No. 3 in D-flat focuses on syncopation that will definitely confuse the player and audience if they’re not listening carefully. No. 4 in C-sharp minor takes a darker mood than the previous studies as the notes, spaced almost two octaves apart, span across the high and low registers of the piano.