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An '''etude''' (French: ''étude'', “study”) is a form of musical composition originally intended to aid or improve the technique of the player. As the [[Italian]] ''studio'', there are examples of the form dating back to the first half of the 18th century. With the development of the modern [[piano]] in the early 19th century, and its growing popularity as a household instrument, books of etudes appeared containing pieces, each of which instructed on a particular facet of technique.

An '''etude''' (French: ''étude'', “study”) is a form of musical composition originally intended to aid or improve the technique of the player. As the [[Italian]] ''studio'', there are examples of the form dating back to the first half of the 18th century. With the development of the modern [[piano]] in the early 19th century, and its growing popularity as a household instrument, books of etudes appeared containing pieces, each of which instructed on a particular facet of technique.

The form entered the concert hall with [[Franz Liszt]]’s ''Études en 12 exercises'' in about 1827 (These pieces were to finally become the ''Études d’exécution transcendante'' – or “''Transendental studies''” -  among the most difficult to play of all piano works.); however it is [[Frédéric Chopin]]’s two sets (Opp. 10 and 25, published in 1833 and 1837) that established the etude as an artform; and are the most frequently performed today. Of the various other sets of studies written for the piano, only those of [[Claude Debussy]] have lasting popularity.  

The form entered the concert hall with [[Franz Liszt]]’s ''Études en 12 exercises'' in about 1827 (These pieces were to finally become the ''Études d’exécution transcendante'' – or “''Transcendental studies''” -  among the most difficult to play of all piano works.); however it is [[Frédéric Chopin]]’s two sets (Opp. 10 and 25, published in 1833 and 1837) that established the etude as an artform; and are the most frequently performed today. Of the various other sets of studies written for the piano, those of [[Claude Debussy]], [[Sergei Rachmaninoff]], and Alexander Scriabin have the most lasting popularity.  

Etudes have been written for other instruments and even for full orchestra – [[Igor Stravinsky]]’s “Four Studies for Orchestra” and Alan Rawsthorne’s “Symphonic Studies” are notable.

Etudes have been written for other instruments and even for full orchestra – [[Igor Stravinsky]]’s “Four Studies for Orchestra” and Alan Rawsthorne’s “Symphonic Studies” are notable.

[[Category: Musical forms]]

[[Category: Musical forms]]