FRYDERYK CHOPIN

1810-1849

BIRTH Born in Poland, in the Village

of Zelazowa Wola near Sochaczew, in the region of Mazovia, which was part of the Duchy of Warsaw.

Father was French; Mother was Polish.

At the age of six, Chopin began studying piano in 1816.

EARLY MUSICAL ADVENTURES

Early training at the Warsaw Conservatory.

Composed first two pieces by the age of seven.

In 1818, Chopin played in public for the first time.

SCHOLARLY JOURNEYChopin’s talent as a pianist, improviser, and composer of music assured him a strong following in his native country.

Left Poland in 1830 to tour Vienna and Germany.

After the failed Polish revolt against Russia in 1831, Chopin settled in Paris instead of returning to his homeland.

PARIS

Chopin soon gained entry into the most elite social circles.

New Wealth

George Sand

MUSICAL STYLE

Solo Piano

Dances

Nocturnes, Impromptus, and Preludes

Introspective and clearly defined formal outlines

Tempo Rubato

Solo Piano or Piano with other forces

110 dances(mazurkas, waltzes, and polonaises)

4 ballades

4 scherzos

10 nocturnes

27 etudes

COMPOSITIONS

25 preludes

2 piano concertos

3 sonatas

5 chamber works(cello sonata)

20 songs

MAZURKA IN B-FLAT MAJOR

Page 364 in Anthologyhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5XeMyKaPR0&feature=fvsr

NO CTU RN E IN D -FL AT M AJO R, OP. 27 , NO. 2

Page 368 in Anthologyhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJ8RVjm49hE&feature=related

CHOPIN’S LETTERS

Personality, Character and Mental Habits

Teachers Colleagues and Pupils

Environment of Childhood

Inhibitions of Life

DEATH

Tuberculosis

Paris, France

Warsaw

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Concise History of Western Music by Barbara Hanning

Frederic Chopin Chopin’s Letters – collected by Henryk Opienski

Frederic Chopin by Bernard Gavoty

Chopin: The Man and His Music by Herbert Weinstock