Impromptu in B major, Op. 11 No. 1

History

This Impromptu opens Rimsky-Korsakov's set of four original piano pieces, Op. 11. Its place at the start lets learners hear how a composer associated with brilliant orchestral colour wrote directly for two hands at the keyboard.

Sources

• mutopiaproject.org
• imslp.org
• urresearch.rochester.edu

What to listen for

1. 1

   The source labels an Allegro opening and later an agitated section. Listen for how the character changes while a continuing line still needs direction.

How to practise it

1. Practise the opening scaled quarter-plus-eighth groups slowly while keeping the 2/4 pulse steady. The source hides the tuplet numeral and bracket, so read the 2/3 scaling rather than treating the written lengths as unscaled beats.
2. Give the repeated opening F-sharp a single phrase direction rather than a fresh accent at every repetition. Sing through the following descending notes before combining the complete texture.

About this piece