1. Frederic Chopin
(1810 – 1849)

2. Chopin (Pronounced “show-pan”)
Born in town near Warsaw, Poland
Father was French, mother – Polish
6 years old – started to compose
Took music lessons from violin teacher even though he played piano! Couldn’t show him how to play, but showed him what to play
Since he never had a piano teacher, came up with his own style
7 y.o. - 1st piece published
8 y.o. - 1st public appearance

3. Chopin
12-17 y.o. – took music lessons with the director of the Warsaw Conservatory
Made very few public appearances
Preferred private concerts
39 y.o. - Died of tuberculosis, buried in France, Polish dirt imported to put on grave
Requested that his heart be removed, put in an urn & sent to Warsaw. Still on display at the Church of the Holy Cross.

4. Chopin’s Music
Popular in Warsaw because he used traditional melodies & rhythms & turned Polish folk music into high art
Nearly all his music is for solo piano
Polonaise – Polish dance in triple meter with this rhythm:
Mazurka – Polish dance in triple meter with accent on 2nd or 3rd beat with either a triplet, trill, dotted eighth note pair, or an ordinary eighth note pair before two quarter notes

5. Chopin Manuscript

6. Chopin’s Music “Funeral March” from Piano Sonata No. 2 in Bb Minor
“Minute” Waltz
“Revolutionary” Etude in C Minor (etude – French for “study”)