Typically for the composer's early works, the "Etudes" were clearly influenced by the music of Fryderyk Chopin and Szymanowski's contemporary, Alexander Skryabin. Their subtlety of expression was achieved by sparing means, mostly colour, and broad-range dynamics.
Szymanowski composed Four Etudes Op. 4 in 1900-1902 and dedicated them to Natalia (Tala) Neuhaus, his school friend. Typically for his early works, the Etudes were clearly influenced by the music of Fryderyk Chopin and Szymanowski's contemporary, Alexander Skryabin. Their subtlety of expression was achieved by sparing means, mostly colour, and broad-range dynamics - from ppp to fff - as well as elaborate harmony.
The best-known work of the cycle, Etude No. 3 in B flat minor has a beautiful, lyrical and melancholic melody and an escalating, tense dynamic. Made popular by the renowned Polish pianist Ignacy Jan Paderewski early on in the 20th century, it would for many years remain the only work associated with Szymanowski's name. The composer himself wrote in a letter to his friend, Grzegorz Fitelberg:
Paderewski introduced himself to Stasia [Stanisława Szymanowska] at a party and spoke tenderly of me (and especially of the famous 'Etude in B flat minor Op. 4 No. 3') - it is a horrible thing to have composed one's Ninth Symphony at a young age!1
Later on Fitelberg orchestrated Etude No. 3 for symphony orchestra.
Notes:
1 Karol Szymanowski. Korespondencja, Tom I: lata 1903-1919, s. 238, list z 13 XI 1910 do Grzegorza Fitelberga, oprac. Teresa Chylińska.
Author: Anna Iwanicka-Nijakowska, September 2007.