FREDERIC CHOPIN

Frederic Chopin

Frederic Chopin

Introduction

Frederic Franciszek Chopin (later Frédéric Francois Chopin) was one of the most famous and significant composers in the Romantic Period. He was born on March 1st, 1810 in Zelazowa Wola near Warsaw to a French father and a Polish mother. He grew up in Warsaw with his family (parents and three siblings).

Discussion

The Life and Music of the Composer Frederic Chopin

In Poland, Frederic Chopin was widely seen as a child prodigy. People called him the “second Mozart”. Chopin played piano when he was four. At the age of six, he started his musical education with the violinist Wojciech Zywny. One year later, he published his first composition, the Polonaise in G minor. He gave his first piano concert when he was eight years old. The Russian tsar once rewarded him with a diamond ring after a performance. (Michalowski, 2006, 20) He continued studying at the Warsaw Lyceum (1823-1826) and later the Warsaw Conservatory (1826-1829). Joseph Elsner, his teacher, taught him harmony, theory, figured bass and composition. Despite his great talent, Chopin was very modest. He once said, “...the Official Bulletin declared that the Poles should be as proud of me as the Germans are of Mozart; obvious nonsense. “In 1829, after he graduated from the Warsaw Conservatory, Chopin wanted to become a touring composer/pianist. He travelled to Vienna to perform two pieces that were well received. He returned to Vienna in 1830 and stayed there for eight months. When he heard about the Russian domination of Warsaw, he decided to go to Paris. During the journey, he met Maria Wodzinska in Dresden, a young girl from a wealthy family. However, when her father refused to agree in the marriage, Chopin moved on. (Michalowski, 2006, 20)

In Paris, he earned his money with teaching. Unfortunately, Chopin was infected with tuberculosis. This set the crown of his lung illness that followed him throughout his life. Soon, he met Franz Liszt in a publishing house. It was said that he heard his music being played beautifully on the second floor; therefore, he went up, sat on another piano and joined the player. The young man looked up and shook his hand, saying, “Someone who knows this music by heart must be the composer!” Chopin replied, “Someone who can play it like that must be Franz Liszt!” They stood up gave each other a hug, the 21-year-old Franz Liszt and 22-year-old Chopin. Supposedly, this was the beginning of their lifelong friendship. Franz Liszt introduced him to many famous composers and pianists, (Samson, 2006, 120) among them Vincenzo Bellini, Hector Berlioz, Felix Mendelssohn, Charles-Valentin Alkan, Friedrich Kalkbrenner, and Ferdinand Hiller. Chopin performed in many Parisian saloons and was acquainted with Honore de Balzac and Heinrich Heine. He immediately became a member of the high society in Paris. It was also Franz Liszt who brought Chopin into contact with the author George Sand. She accompanied him on a trip to Mallorca where he hoped to recover from ...