Chopin: Scherzo No. 3

Chopin excelled primarily in writing for solo piano. Like Mozart, he was legendary for his on-the-spot improvisation abilities. He wrote four scherzos (the term “scherzo” means “little joke”).

Martha Argerich is one of the greatest concert pianists of the 20th century. In fact, some say she was the greatest pianist in the last hundred years.

Listen for the emotional direction of this piece of music. It will build in intensity until about 3/4 of the way through when you will hear the pinnacle of the music. Chopin’s Scherzo No. 3 is one of the clearest examples of the concept of climactic arrival in music.

Scherzo No. 3 in C# Minor, Op. 39

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