Although, as the title implies, these studies are all fast, they are not in the first place studies in pianistic virtuosity – I am no pianist myself – so much as studies in various ways of composing fast music. All are short and concentrated, with few lasting more than a minute.
Since the order of performance and the number of studies played (there is no obligation to play them all) is largely up to the pianist, there is no point in attempting to describe them. Except to say that in a complete version one is a nocturne (which should be placed near the end), with the only slow textures of the eleven, and the final piece is in the nature of a toccata.
This work was commissioned by the Finzi Trust with funds made available by Southern Arts.
Categories: Piano