Noctave
Born in Regensburg, Burgmüller settled in Paris in the 1830s and lived there as a pianist and teacher. He wrote salon pieces and ballet music, including La Péri (1843), but his name has stayed tied to his teaching collections. The 25 Easy and Progressive Studies, Op. 100, each carry a French character title: they teach technique through a small scene.
Follow the order of the book. Candour lets the right hand sing over a simple accompaniment. Arabesque passes a quick figure from one hand to the other over short chords, Pastorale adds grace notes, and Innocence and Progress raise the speed. Then come Grace, faster still and spanning five octaves, Farewell, and the Ballade in C minor, with its chords and frequent accidentals, to be played with a firm rhythm.