Tuesday, May 26, 2020

COMPOSER OF THE WEEK: 12. Frédéric Chopin


Frédéric Chopin was a Polish composer and virtuoso pianist of the Romantic era, who was born on 1 March 1810 and died on 17 October 1849, and wrote mainly for solo piano

Chopin, who had a genius musical talent, was one of the leading musicians of his era and his genius was based on professional techniques that were distinctly different from his contemporary musicians.

Chopin was born in Żelazowa Wola, Poland, and grew up in Warsaw. Chopin, a music prodigy, had musical education in Warsaw and composed his earlier works before leaving Poland at the age of 20, less than a month before the outbreak of the November 1830 Uprising

Chopin's birthplace, Żelazowa Wola

Chopin, who settled in Paris at the age of 21, had only 30 public concerts in the last 18 years of his life. Chopin made a friendship with Franz Liszt and was respected by many contemporary musicians, including Robert Schumann.

Franz Liszt

Robert Schumann

In 1837, Chopin, who failed engagement to Maria Wodzińska, had a relationship with French writer Amantine Dupin, whose pen name is George Sand.  The visit to Majorca with Sand from 1838 to 1839 was one of the most productive periods of composition in Chopin's life. Chopin, who was in poor health for most of his life, died in Paris in 1849 at the age of 39.

Maria Wodzińska

George Sand

All of Chopin's works include the piano. Although there are two piano concertos, some chamber works and 19 songs written in Polish lyrics, most of Chopin's works are for solo piano. His piano works require very difficult techniques, and his performances are famous for their emotional atmosphere. 

Chopin's grave, Père-Lachaise cemetery, Paris

Chopin's major piano works include mazurkas, waltzes, nocturnes, polonaises, études, impromptus, scherzos, preludes and sonatas, and some of them were published posthumously. The elements that influenced his style of works were Polish folk music, music of J. S. Bach, Mozart, and Schubert and the atmosphere of the Paris salons he frequented. 

Chopin's death mask, Clésinger

Chopin's music had a great influence throughout and after the late Romantic period.

Thank you.

Frédéric Chopin Monument, Łazienki Park, Warsaw





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