Frédéric François Chopin “The Poet of the Piano”

Frédéric François Chopin Born March 1, 1810 Zelazowa Wola, Poland (near Warsaw) Died October 17, 1849 Paris, France Memorial in Zelazowa Wola Nicholas Chopin Father French Played flute and violin Tekla Justyna Krzyzanowska Mother Polish Played piano and was well educated

Education & Background  Chopin began his musical studies at the age of 7 with Adalbert Zywny.  Zywny instilled an everlasting admiration of Bach and Mozart in Chopin.  Within a few months of beginning his studies with Zywny, Chopin began to play in public. By November 1817, Chopin composed, and published, a short Polonaise in G Minor.  By the end of 1817, Chopin was being described as Mozart’s successor.  His first major concert was at the age of 8, and was held on Feburary 24, He played Gyrowetz Concerto in aid of a charity.  In 1824 he entered the Warsaw Conservatory; the following year saw the publication of his Rondo in C Minor, Op.1.  In 1831 arrived in Paris where he spent the reminder of his career.

Known For…  Unique style – one of the most original artists of the 18 century.  Wrote strictly for the piano.  Much of Chopin’s piano music looks back at his Polish roots, including his Polonaises and Mazurkas, both of which are native dance forms.  Invariably difficult music.  New and freer pianist, free from the conventional discipline of stiff bodily action.  Exquisite chromaticism.  First to use the entire range of the piano.  First pianist to consistently use half and quarter peddling.  Flawless technique.  Highly personal in wayward use of tempo rubato.  Subtle harmonic shifts between major, minor, and modal scales typical of folk music.  Expressive depth.  Widely spaced chords.  Achieved “singing upon the piano.”

Major Works  Piano Solo  31 Mazurkas  14 Nocturnes  14 Polonaises  19 Waltzes  4 Ballades  24 Preludes  27 Studies  4 Impromptus  4 Scherzos  3 Rondos  Marches  Variations  Bolero  Sonata, B Flat  Fantasie, F/A Flat  Berceuse, D Flat  Barcarolle, F Sharp  Polonaise-Fantaisie, A-flat  Piano with orchestra  Pf Conc. No.1, E  Pf Conc. No.2, F  4 Other Works  Other  Pf Trio  Vc Sonata  2 Chamber Duos  Circa 20 songs with Pf Acc  Arrs., Trancrs  1 Pf Duet

Piano Concerto No.2 in F minor, Op.21  h?v=zhUrIGHB0aY h?v=zhUrIGHB0aY  Written in Autumn of 1829, to be completed in the Spring of  Inspired by Polish soprano named Konstancja Gladkowska.  On March 3, 1830 a trial concert was arranged in the Drawing Room of the Chopin household with a select private audience.  Official adult debut at the National Theater in Warsaw on March 17, This debut sold out 3 days beforehand.  One audience member was documented as saying, “ I have just returned from the concert by Chopin, that artist whom I heard playing when he was seven; when he was still a hope for the future. How beautifully he plays today! What fluency! What evenness! His music is full of expressive feeling and song, and puts the listener into a state of subtle rapture, bringing back to his memory all the happy moments he has known.”

Concerto in E Minor, Op.11 3 rd Movement  Completed in August  First public performance on October 11, 1829 at the Townhall.  Final concert in Warsaw.  Was the center piece of the program, together with Fantasia and Polish Airs.  Was an overwhelming success.  Chopin stated, “I was not a bit, not a bit nervous, and played the way I play when I’m alone. It went well.” 

The End Of A Piano Master October 17, 1849  In accordance of Chopin’s request, Mozart’s Requiem Mass was sung with Dupont, Pauline Viardot, and Castellan, while Lablache (who had sung the Tuba Mirum from the same work at Beethoven’s funeral in 1827) also took part.  Chopin’s Funeral March from the B Flat Minor Sonata was heard in an orchestrated version, and his Preludes in E Minor and B Minor were played on the organ.  Laid to rest in the Père-Lachaise in between Bellini and Chaerubini.  Chopin had many imitators, but no successor. More than any other composer of his generation he understood, and voiced the spirit and ethos of his age; its dreaming, its emotions, its patriotism, its turbulence. Funeral service took place on October 30, 1849 at the Church of the Madeleine.

Resources Orga, Ateş. Chopin: His Life and Times. Tunbridge Wells [Eng.: Midas, Print Szulc, Tad. Chopin in Paris: The Life and Times of the Romantic Composer. New York: Scribner, Print.