Irene Scharrer: Her thoughts on Chopin’s Études

After completing my essay on Irene Scharrer’s recording of Chopin’s Étude op.25 no.9, I came across this short pen-portrait included in Modern Masters of the Keyboard written by Harriette Brower and published in 1926 by Frederic A. Stokes.

In interview Scharrer states:

‘As for études – other than those of Chopin – I have only done those of Czerny. But those wonderful Chopin studies! They meet every pianist’s need. There are scale and arpeggio passages, trills, double thirds and double sixths, octaves, chromatics – in short everything one can think of. And best of all, when through their study one is developing one’s technique to the virtuoso stage, one is at the same time learning beautiful works of art than can be used [in] any program. I have frequently given an ‘all Chopin’ program, and love to do it.’

For information, a scale in double thirds is one in which each hand plays two notes simultaneously a third apart: for example, C & E, D and F# etc. ‘Double sixths’ is a scale in which each hand plays two notes simultaneously a sixth apart for example, C & A, D & B etc. Pianists often practise these scales with both hands, but Chopin usually (but not always) demands that the player perform ‘doubles’ with one hand only. These scales can be diatonic or chromatic in their execution.

Irene Scharrer recorded at least 18 examples of Chopin’s Études. I have derived this information from the liner notes of Irene Scharrer: The Complete Electric and Selected Acoustic Recordings issued on APR 6010 and released in 2012 s a part of their ‘The Matthay Pupils’ series. These notes indicate that the discography may be incomplete and is a work in progress. All the ‘electrical’ examples are included in the CD package. Only the acoustically recorded Étude in F minor op.25, no.2 is given on this disc.

Acoustic Recordings

Étude in G flat major, op.10, no.5 (rec. 1909)

Étude in A flat major, op.25, no.1 ‘Aeolian Harp’ (rec. 1912)

Étude in F minor op.25, no.2 (rec. 1912)

Étude in A minor, op.25, no.11 ‘Winter Wind’ (rec. 1912)

Étude in G flat major, op.25, no.9 ‘Butterfly’s Wings’ (rec. 1912)

Étude in G sharp minor, op.25, no.6 (rec. 1915)

Étude in G flat minor, op.10, no.5 (rec.1915)

Étude in E flat major, op.10, no.11 (rec. 1916)

HMV Electric Recordings

Étude in G flat major, op.10, no.5 ‘Black Key’ (rec. 1927)

Columbia Electric Recordings

Étude in E flat major, op.10, no.11 (rec. 1933)

Étude in C minor, op.10, no.12 ‘Revolutionary’ (rec 1933)

Étude in A flat major, op.25, no. 1 ‘Aeolian Harp’ (rec. 1933)

Étude in G flat major, op.25, no.9 ‘Butterfly’s Wings’ (rec. 1933)

Étude in G sharp minor, op.25, no.6 (rec. 1933)

Étude in A minor, op.25, no.11 ‘Winter Wind’ (rec. 1930)

Étude in C minor, op.10, no.12 (rec.1933)

Trois Nouvelles Études, no.1 in F minor (rec. 1933)

Trois Nouvelles Études, no 2 in D flat major (rec 1933)