Twelve Studies. Op. 25 played by Iso Elinson (pianoforte)
A hundred years ago people hardly thought of a Study as a piece for concert performance. A Study, as its name implies, was a technical exercise. Some particular feature in which pianists were likely to need practice would be taken and a little piece written round that feature, using it over and over again. What Chopin did may be stated in a few words. He took the dry exercise and turned it into poetry.