Why did Méreaux compose an unprecedented 60 études, far exceeding the typical sets of 12 or 24? Learn!
Jean-Amédée Lefroid de Méreaux's "Grandes études pour piano en 60 caprices caractéristiques" (Op. 63) is a colossal undertaking in the piano étude repertoire, composed between 1832 and 1837. Published in 10 volumes, it stands as one of the most extensive sets of études ever written. Méreaux aimed to cover every possible technical challenge and musical style of the time, dividing the études between "style libre" (free, romantic, character pieces) and "style sévère" (strict, contrapuntal). While admired for their ambition and historical significance, their extreme length and formidable technical demands have prevented them from entering the standard concert repertoire, making them a fascinating curiosity of the Romantic era's virtuosic ambitions.