L'Arabesque, Op. 100 No. 2
L'Arabesque, the second of Burgmüller's 25 Easy and Progressive Studies, Op. 100, is a short, quick study in A minor and 2/4. Octotune grades it 6 of 8, mostly for its speed: an even five-note figure passed between the hands over crisp staccato chords.
At a glance
| Composer | Johann Friedrich Franz Burgmüller (1806–1874) |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Intermediate: grade 6 of 8 |
| Key | A minor (no sharps or flats) |
| Time | 2/4 |
| Tempo | 152 quarter-note beats a minute, as the app starts it (it can go slower) |
| Length | 33 bars, about 26 seconds |
| Hands | both hands |
| Right hand | A3 to A6 |
| Left hand | A2 to A4 |
It reaches past the staff: see ledger lines explained.
Levels in the app
| Version | Grade | Levels |
|---|---|---|
| l'Arabesque, Opus 100 | 6 of 8 | Melody, Melody and bass, Full |
Practice notes
L'Arabesque is the second of Friedrich Burgmüller's 25 Easy and Progressive Studies, Op. 100, the collection that follows La Candeur. It is in A minor, marked Allegro scherzando, playful and quick, and lasts well under a minute.
What's in it. A quick five-note figure in sixteenth notes, passed from one hand to the other, over short, bouncy staccato chords. The figure travels through the hands and through several keys before the opening returns, and the piece ends with a flourish high up the keyboard.
Why Octotune grades it 6. Speed. At Burgmüller's own quick tempo there are many notes a second, which weighs most in Octotune's grading. The patterns themselves fit the hand well, and at a slower speed it is a comfortable early-intermediate piece.
The tricky parts
- Evenness of the five-note figure, especially in the left hand. Keep the fingers close to the keys and the wrist loose.
- Staccato chords that are short but not harsh: bounce from the wrist.
- Sudden dynamics. Burgmüller writes sharp contrasts between loud and soft. They make the piece.
Practice plan
- Play the five-note figure alone in each hand, slowly, then in dotted rhythms (long-short, short-long) to even it out.
- Hands together at 50% speed with the A–B loop.
- Raise the speed a little each day. Keep it light rather than loud.
Before you start: Octotune's path through Unit 9. The final flourish climbs well above the treble staff.
Questions
Is Burgmüller's Arabesque hard?
It is short and the patterns repeat, but it is quick: Octotune grades it 6 of 8, mainly for its speed. At a slower tempo it is a good early-intermediate study.
What is Burgmüller Op. 100?
25 Easy and Progressive Studies (25 Études faciles et progressives), Op. 100, by Friedrich Burgmüller: short character pieces for young pianists, published in the 1850s.
Credits and licence
- Music: Johann Friedrich Franz Burgmüller (1806–1874)
- Typeset by Bas Wassink for the Mutopia Project
- Licence: Public Domain
- Source and printable sheet music: the Mutopia Project’s page for this piece