The third in the group of scherzotic etudes (and the fifth in the opus 25 set), in E minor, is a scherzo in miniature. The outer sections, dominated by a broken rhythm, quasi-guitar arpeggios and a leggiero style, proceed at a quick vivace tempo. Chopin wants it played scherzando.The middle section, which discharges a function analogous to a trio, moves along slowly. It allows us to listen freely to the wondrously beautiful, refined and natural melody, conveyed in the cello register and in cello-like colours, to the accompaniment of rising and falling figuration. This etude also has a surprising finale: a suddenly more dramatic turn to the course of the music, ending with strange hollering from fortissimo chords and a soaring passage in a major, not minor, key. Author: Mieczysław TomaszewskiA series of programmes entitled 'Fryderyk Chopin's Complete Works'Polish Radio 2