Written between 1942 and 1944, the 6 Studies Op. 70 are Alfredo Casella's musical approaches to the technical etude, encompassing certain techniques in piano playing while incorporating perhaps an influence of Italian moods with a hint of jazz. This to be fair is a bit surprising, considering that in this period Italy is playing alongside the Axis Powers in the Second World War, and despite his decision to remain in his hometown since returning there in 1938 from touring the United States back in the 1920s and early 1930s, he doesn't seem to dig deeper about the reforms of the Fascist movement, even when some of his works are highly praised like propaganda material. While he actually intended the set to be a homage to Frederic Chopin and Maurice Ravel, he dedicated each study to his good friends who are also musicians -- in consecutive order, Carlo Zecchi, Armando Renzi, Maria Luisa Faini, Marcella Barzetti, Lya de Barberiis, and Pietro Scarpini.

No. 1 in E minor focuses on major thirds. No. 2 focuses on major and minor sevenths, with a frantic and hurried mood, as if almost representing like a sleeper escaping from a demon in his dreams. No. 3 in C-sharp minor brings us to a melancholic yet somewhat romantic mood as an exercise in triplet fourths for the right hand set against a two-beat melody-bassline balancing act for the left. Returning to the frantic mood again, No. 4 in D minor focuses on repeated notes. Going to a much calmer style than the previous etudes, No. 5 in A-flat major is a study on fifths, a tribute for Frederic Chopin, as seen in the tempo marking "in the tempo of his A major prelude", although the actual musical reference to the prelude itself seems less recognizable. For the fitting finale in the form of a toccata in perpetuum mobile, No. 6 is the "final boss" of the entire set -- for the performer, a combination test of techniques in the previous exercises.

Please take note that the audio AND sheet music ARE NOT mine. Change the quality to a minimum of 480p if the video is blurry.

Original audio: [ Ссылка ]
(Performance by: Michele d'Ambrosio)
Original sheet music: imslp.org /wiki/6_Studi%2C_Op.70_(Casella%2C_Alfredo)

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