The twelve studies are: The pianist Nicolas Hodges initiated the project in an attempt to provide piano students with alternatives to the Ligeti Etudes, which have been widely performed in the years since the composer's death.
[5] The composers were chosen with a view to providing as much range as possible within contemporary classical music.
First those by Finnissy, Francesconi, Mundry, Rzewski were commissioned by Philharmonie Luxembourg and then first performed there by Nicolas Hodges in June 2010.
The study by Saunders was premiered by Nicolas Hodges at the Salzburg Biennale 2013.
Finally, the study by Ferneyhough was commissioned by SWR Eclat Festival, and premiered there by Hodges in February 2014.