![]() His Polonaises, Mazurkas, and other Polish songs form the largest part of his oeuvre. He composed countless piano works inspired by the folk songs of his native land. Fortunately for lovers of his music, he found his way to Paris where he met and was influenced by other composers, such as Franz Liszt, Felix Mendelssohn, and Hector Berlioz.Īlthough he made Paris his home base until he died in 1849, he remained a Polish patriot at heart. The ensuing war made it impossible for him to return home. In 1830 Chopin traveled to Vienna with plans to visit Italy and other countries when Poland revolted against Russia. ![]() This was quite a revelation at the time and soon he was composing pieces that made those demands of other pianists as well. Chopin developed a delicate technique of playing that enabled him to play rapid passages very quickly and lightly. At age 16 he enrolled in the Warsaw Conservatory of Music to further his studies. His family was artistic and creative and encouraged his early interest in piano playing.īy age seven he was composing his own pieces and at eight he was performing in public concerts. His Polish birth name was Fryderyk Franciszek Szopen, which you will sometimes still find printed on scores of his music. Who Was Chopin?Ĭhopin was born in a town outside of Warsaw, Poland in 1810 to a French émigré father and a mother of the minor Polish aristocracy. While many of his pieces are very difficult and present challenges to the most advanced pianists, there is something for everyone who would like to play Chopin, regardless of skill level. Playing a Chopin piece can even help you relax after a stressful day. His music is performed around the world at concerts, recitals, weddings, funerals, and just about every occasion you can imagine. Frédéric François Chopin may be the most beloved composer of piano music in the Western canon.
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