Description

Chopin published his first three Scherzi at roughly regular intervals - in 1835, 1837, and 1840 - almost as if he had planned them in advance. He then waited three more years before releasing his fourth and final work in this genre in 1843. While his earlier Scherzi were largely somber in mood, this last piece is surprisingly cheerful, with its sparkling runs and chords that evoke the fairy-like spirit of Mendelssohn's similar compositions. However, this Scherzo No. 4 presents editorial challenges, as three parallel first editions were published in Germany, France, and England, requiring careful investigation to determine the most authentic version. This revised Urtext edition provides an exemplary, transparent account of the work's transmission, making it an invaluable resource for today's pianists.