Fryderyk Chopin

(1810 - 1849)

In the 30-40s of the 19th century, world music was enriched by three major artistic phenomena - national composer schools appeared in Eastern Europe. Indeed, until that time, all the most significant phenomena in world musical art took place in three cultural centers - Italy, France and Austria-Germany. And suddenly, on the "outskirts" of Europe, one after another, national composers began to appear. These new national schools - Russian, Polish, Czech, Hungarian and others - infused a fresh stream into the long traditions of European music. The ideals, hopes and sufferings of their people, their artistic life and way of life became the basis of the creative style of the representatives of these national schools. This is the embodiment of the spirit of the Polish people was the music of Fryderyk Chopin.

Chopin's birthplace is Poland. The musician spent his childhood and youth here. The second half of his life is connected with France - the birthplace of his father.

The composer's mother is a Polish woman from an impoverished noble family. Father - a Frenchman, the son of a Lorraine peasant, a participant in the Polish uprising.

Chopin's body rests in Paris. Chopin's heart, according to his last will, is buried in Warsaw.

Childhood. Fryderyk Chopin was born in the count's estate near Warsaw Zhelyazova Wola. His mother, a distant relative of the owners of the estate, served as a housekeeper here, and his father was the tutor of the master's children. But already in the first year of the boy's life, the family moved to Warsaw.

Music sounded in this house all the time: my father played the violin and flute, and my mother played the piano a little and sang. At first, the parents thought that the boy did not like music, because when the mother started to play, the child began to worry and cry. But it turned out that the reason for this is an attraction to music. By the age of five, he already knew how to play the piano well. The most famous Polish musician of that time, Wojciech Zhivny, began to seriously teach him. At the age of seven, the boy's first concert took place, which was a great success. At the same time, Chopin's first composition, the piano Polonaise, was published. On this occasion, a Warsaw newspaper wrote that the son of a professor of French was "a true genius."

The boy's successes were so great that when he was 12 years old, Zhivny himself refused to study with him. He said that he could no longer give anything to his outstanding student. Chopin had no more piano teachers. Everything that he has achieved is the result of independent work, internal development and growth.

Due to poor health, he was assigned to the Lyceum at the age of thirteen. Friederik immediately entered the fourth grade, because even at home he easily mastered the subjects he studied, mastered German and French. During these years, Chopin's multifaceted talent was clearly manifested. He wrote poetry, composed plays for home theater, his drawings with paints, which speak of outstanding artistic abilities, have been preserved. His mimic talent has repeatedly aroused the admiration of connoisseurs. One Polish actor said that a great actor was lost in Chopin. The same thing was said about him later in Paris.

In 1824, a conservatory was opened in Warsaw, called the "Main School of Music". Its director was a wonderful composer, champion of Polish national culture Jozef Elsner. Chopin probably took lessons from him even before entering the conservatory in 1826. In the person of Elsner, he found a sensitive and intelligent teacher who immediately felt the beating of genius in the works of the young musician. He carefully developed and protected the abilities of his student. When some musicians began to criticize Chopin's bold creative style, Elsner replied: “Leave him alone. True, he does not go the usual way, but his talent is also unusual.

It took the young pianist only three years to finish the conservatory. The teacher's notes have been preserved, in which he characterizes the young musician: “Amazing abilities. musical genius. Chopin was recognized as the best pianist in Poland. His writings were very famous. The most significant among them are the two Piano Concertos, concert pieces.

Chopin's friends and his teacher advised the young musician to make a trip abroad for further improvement. But there was no money for the trip. Therefore, it was decided to first go to Vienna for a short time.

First tour. After graduating from the conservatory, Chopin went to Vienna. He gave two concerts here, in which he also appeared as an author. Both concerts were a huge success. Viennese music critics wrote about him as a genius. The proceeds could be enough for some time of living abroad. It was possible to go on a trip, but Chopin put off the trip from day to day. The political situation in Poland became more and more aggravated: Polish patriots were preparing an uprising against Russian tsarism. But, finally, the day of departure was appointed.

Trip to Paris. On November 2, 1830, Chopin left for Paris. The day before, friends arranged a farewell party and handed him a silver goblet with Polish soil. Accepting it, Chopin said words that turned out to be prophetic: "I am convinced that I am leaving Warsaw and will never return to it, and that I say eternal goodbye to my homeland." These words were destined to come true.

Two weeks after his departure, an uprising broke out in Warsaw. Upon learning of this, Chopin wanted to rush home. But his friends convinced him that he should serve his homeland with his art, which, under the prevailing situation in Poland, would have been doomed. He could only worry about the fate of his relatives, for the outcome of the uprising from afar.

On the way to Paris, he decided to visit Vienna again. But this time she didn't live up to his expectations. Viennese musicians realized what kind of rival Chopin was for them. Therefore, he failed to organize a concert. The young musician left Vienna. Already on the road, he was overtaken by the news of the defeat of the uprising in Poland. As a true patriot, he took the tragedy of the fatherland. The pages of his diary are filled with an expression of despair. He poured out his grief, anger, indignation in music.

The defeat of the uprising forever cut off his path to his homeland. In the autumn of 1831 he arrived in Paris, where he remained for the rest of his life.

Chopin conquered Paris first as a pianist. His performance was original and unusual. Just like Liszt, Chopin was recognized as one of the best pianists in the world.

Gradually, Chopin's music also conquered Paris. In his concerts, he mostly performed his own compositions. After listening to one of Chopin's works - Variations on a theme from Mozart's opera "Don Juan", - the German composer R. Schumann wrote: "Hats off, gentlemen, before you is a genius!"

But Chopin's main source of income during these years was teaching. He had to give lessons for several hours a day. This work took a lot of time and effort, but Chopin could not refuse it, even having won world fame.

During his years in Paris, Chopin had the opportunity to communicate with prominent people of his time. Among his friends were the French artist Delacroix, the German poet Heine, the composer Berlioz, the pianist and composer Liszt. Here he became close friends with his countrymen. He could, putting aside all his affairs, listen to stories about his homeland, about his friends.

Communication with the Poles was especially dear to him because he felt very lonely in Paris. He didn't have his own family. Leaving Warsaw, Chopin said goodbye to his beloved, a singer, a student of the conservatory. But a year later he found out that a friend preferred him a rich gentry.

A few years later, he proposed to another compatriot, Countess Maria Wodzińska. But her parents were afraid to connect the fate of their daughter with a highly talented, but not a high-ranking musician.

Chopin knew the happiness and sorrow of love with Aurora Dudevant, known in literature under the male pseudonym George Sand. She was a talented writer, an artistically gifted person, who also had musical abilities. She played a big role in Chopin's life. Their romance lasted nine years. The house where Chopin and George Sand settled became one of the most interesting salons. Here one could meet Mickiewicz, Balzac, Heine, representatives of the Polish aristocracy.

Over the years, concert activity began to occupy less and less space in Chopin's life. The artist sometimes appeared on the big stage, played in aristocratic salons, but was weary of public speaking, “The crowd scares me,” he confessed to Liszt. He loved to play in front of close people who understand him and sympathize with him. Before them, he revealed himself both as a pianist-poet and as an inspired creator. He amazed them with the richness of his improvisations. One of his friends even claimed that Chopin's best works are "only reflections and echoes of his improvisations."

Having abandoned concert activity, Chopin was forced to intensively engage in pedagogical work. This work not only tired the composer, but distracted him from the most important work of his life - writing. And yet it was during this period that the full spiritual maturity of the composer came, his development reached its highest point. At this time, the most profound and significant works were born: ballads, sonatas, scherzos, the best polonaises, mazurkas, nocturnes.

last years of life. The years spent with George Sand brought the composer much joy. Yet the sharp difference between their natures led to a break. But before the discord with Aurora became clear, he had to endure the loss of two of his closest people. In 1842, Jan Matushinsky, a close friend of Chopin, died of consumption. A year and a half later, he lost his beloved father. Ludovica's sister came to ease his grief. She brought with her some part of her home, family. But with her departure, Chopin closed in on himself again. The world of his inner life and experiences was hidden from those around him. But the more he felt his loneliness, the hotter and more sincere his music became. Only in it the musician fully revealed all the secrets that he carefully concealed from people.

The break with George Sand undermined his health. The lung disease, which he had suffered from his youth, worsened. The last years were the darkest in his life. His funds have dried up. Not only the need for money, but also indifference to his fate prompted him to make a trip to London.

In the spring of 1848 he arrived in London. And immediately began obligatory visits, dinner parties, receptions. And here he had to give lessons, speak at receptions. It took away the last strength.

In August, at the invitation of his students, Chopin went to Scotland, where he also gave concerts. Returning to London, he played in a concert arranged for the benefit of the Poles. It was the last performance of the great pianist.

At the end of November, on the advice of doctors, terminally ill, he returned to Paris. Ludovica's sister was summoned again. He bequeathed his dying request to her: "I know you will not be allowed to transport my body to Warsaw, take my heart there, at least."

On the night of October 17, 1849, Chopin died. The best artists of Paris took part in the solemn funeral. A handful of Polish soil was poured into Chopin's grave from a goblet that his friends gave him when he said goodbye to his homeland. Chopin's heart was transported to Poland and kept in the Church of the Holy Cross. When the fascist troops captured Poland, the Polish patriots hid the precious vessel. And after the liberation of the country, the vessel with Chopin's heart was again returned to the church, where it is carefully kept today.

The work of Fryderyk Chopin

Chopin devoted his entire life to his favorite instrument. And his creativity is limited only by the piano. With the exception of a few works for other instruments and a few songs, all of the composer's works are related to the piano. But, even working only for the piano, Chopin managed to achieve such a variety that other composers achieved by working on different genres of musical art.

Chopin's Mazurkas

F. Chopin's Peru owns 52 mazurkas. They seem to reveal the soul of the Polish people, their thoughts and aspirations, way of life, customs, feelings and aspirations. The rich world of human feelings and thoughts is expressed in Chopin's mazurkas very sincerely and truthfully.

Mazurka- a favorite Polish dance. He was born in one of the regions of Poland - Mazovia. Therefore, it is more correct to call him Mazur. Folk mazurka is a dance that is danced by two partners, and there are no pre-invented figures in it. It is improvised. But when the mazurka appeared in a noble, gentry environment, it turned into a brilliant dance, symbolizing military prowess.

Among Chopin's mazurkas, we encounter brilliant ballroom melodies, fervent peasant melodies, and poetic tender melodies - real miniature poems. Chopin often called them "obrazki". It means "pictures" in Polish. Indeed, these are real pictures of Polish life. It seems that the very soul of Poland sings in these beautiful creations.

Mazurka in C major (op. 56 No. 2). This is a real picture of a village holiday, "with a lively sense of the homeland, land, people and its radiant energy." This is what the remarkable Russian musicologist, academician B. Asafiev said about this mazurka. The Poles called her "mazurka mazurok".

Imagine that we are on a holiday in a Polish village. Of course, the dances are accompanied by the village orchestra. What tools does it consist of? The obligatory participant was the violin, the double bass was no less important. And, of course, bagpipes.

At the beginning of Chopin's mazurka, a fifth "hums" for several bars, imitating a village orchestra. And against its background, a cheerful, perky melody with a sharp syncopated rhythm sounds. At folk festivals, the mazurka was not always danced by all the dancers. In the middle of the dance, the main dancer stepped forward, showing his skills in a solo dance. It is replaced by the dance of girls, more lyrical. Such a picture is drawn by the middle section in C major mazurka. But it all ends with a common dance.

The Mazurka in A minor (op. 68 No. 2) is of a completely different character. This is a very poetic lyrical picture of the motherland. As expected, the mazurka is written in a three-part form, where the middle section also embodies a perky village dance.

An example of a brilliant ballroom mazurka is the Mazurka in B-flat major (op. 7 no. 1). Unlike the previous ones, it is written in the form of a rondo, the refrain of which is a bright, impetuous theme with a clear rhythm. This section is replaced by two contrasting themes. One of them is the rustic bagpipe tune so beloved by Chopin.

Polonaise Chopin

Polonaise- the oldest of the Polish dances. In the old days it was called the "great" or "walking" dance. The word "polonaise" is French, and in translation means "Polish". In ancient times, it was a festive ceremonial procession of knights, and only men danced it. Over time, all the guests began to take part in this parade procession. Court balls were opened to them. Beautifully dressed dancers marched in a long line, crouching gracefully at the end of each measure. In the first pair, the host of the ball performed with the most respected guest.

In addition to the courtier, there was also a peasant polonaise - more calm and smooth.

In Chopin's work, we encounter polonaises of different character: lyrical, dramatic, and bravura, similar to chivalrous ones. The Polonaise in A major (op. 40 No. 1) is especially famous. This solemn composition vividly confirms that Chopin wrote his polonaises, as well as mazurkas, not to be danced to. These are bright concert pieces.

main topic polonaise - majestic, jubilantly victorious. The middle section is built on the development of an invocative fanfare theme.

listening to music: F. Chopin, Polonaise No. 3. Mazurkas No. 5, 34, 49.

Waltzes by Chopin

Waltz- such a popular dance that it makes no sense to talk about it again. It should only be noted that in the first half of the 19th century it was popular throughout Europe.

For the first time, the waltz became a concert piece in the work of Schubert. But his waltzes were still very similar to everyday dances. Over time, the waltz turned into an independent form and began to penetrate into serious music: the waltz becomes part of the symphony, concert symphonic pieces appear in waltz rhythm.

In Chopin's work, waltzes are also solo concert pieces, expressive and graceful, in which rich and varied pianist techniques are widely used.

Of Chopin's seventeen waltzes, we will recall one of the most famous - Waltz in C sharp minor.

The waltz is based on three diverse waltz themes. A soft, graceful theme, smooth and light, opens the waltz. It is replaced by a faster, swirling, light melody. The third - a melodious, slow theme - gives rise to a feeling of reflection.

The double repetition of the second theme, in alternation with the rest, resembles the rondo form typical of many dance pieces.

Nocturnes by Chopin

Nocturne- one of the characteristic genres of romantic art, the French word nocturne in translation means "night". This term appeared in the music of the XVIII century. At that distant time, this word was called the plays performed on outdoors, most often wind or string instruments. They were close to instrumental serenades or divertissements.

In the 19th century, a completely different nocturne appeared - a dreamy, melodious piano piece, inspired by the image of the night, the silence of the night, the thoughts of the night. For the first time, piano nocturnes began to be written by the Irish composer and pianist, who had lived in Russia for a long time, John Field. We find nocturnes in the works of Glinka, Tchaikovsky, Schumann. But the most famous are Chopin's nocturnes. Dreamy or poetic, strict or mournful, stormy or passionate, they make up a significant part of the composer's work.

Chopin wrote twenty nocturnes, and they differ significantly from D. Field's nocturnes. Field's nocturnes, as a rule, are based on one musical image, the manner of presentation resembles a song with accompaniment: right hand leads the melody, the other voices accompany it. Chopin's nocturnes are much deeper in content. They are distinguished by the richness of musical images and the power of creative imagination. Most of Chopin's nocturnes are based on the contrast of the two images.

One of Chopin's best works in this genre is the Nocturne in F sharp major. Like a song flowing in the silence of the night, a soulful melodic melody sounds. The fullness of the lyrical feeling results in a passionate outburst. As if a whirlwind (perhaps, despair, passion) interrupts the dreaminess of the song. As much as the first section of the form is calm and dreamy, the middle section is so excited. After it, the melody of the first part sounds completely different in the reprise. And only in the code does the tension of the topic disappear and everything calms down.

Chopin Preludes

The word "prelude" in Latin means "introduction". In early music, it really performed the modest role of an introduction to something important: to singing a chorale, to a fugue, a sonata, or some other piece. Over time, independent preludes began to appear. And in the work of Chopin, the prelude completely changed its purpose and purpose. Each of his preludes is a complete whole, which captures one image or mood.

Chopin was the first composer to create a kind of cycle of 24 preludes written in all major and minor keys. They are like an album of short musical recordings reflecting inner world man, his feelings, thoughts, desires.

Prelude in E minor - one of the most lyrical in the composer's work. Her music brings back memories of something beautiful that was in our lives, but gone forever. The amazing mastery of the composer, in such a simple texture conveying the subtlest shades of human feelings.

Even more striking is Chopin's skill in preludes in A major. It has only 16 bars. Chopin's skill in small form say something big and important. Its melody is striking, similar to the expressive human speech.

Even smaller (only 13 measures) is the prelude in C minor, which many perceive as a funeral march. The mournful, and at the same time, the solemn nature of the music resembles a farewell to the last journey. common man but a leader, the leader of the people.

Etudes by Chopin

The word "etude" is familiar to us. From the first months of mastering the instrument, the student begins to play etudes. At first, quite simple. Then it moves on to more complex ones.

In French, etude means study. They develop the musician's technique. Each etude is dedicated to mastering some technical technique: playing in octaves, trills, thirds, for example. By the way, not only musicians are engaged in the study of technical methods. This is done by artists, chess players, and many others. Etudes of great artists often turn out to be not just exercises for developing some kind of technique, but genuine works of art. They are exhibited in museums, they are admired. So in the work of Chopin, the etude received a new meaning.

With Chopin, the etude ceased to be an exercise. It has become a full-fledged artistic genre, like other concert works, revealing poetic images, thoughts, moods. From now on, etudes began to be included in concert programs as serious and expressive works, along with sonatas, ballads and other genres.

The famous Etude in C minor No. 12, called "Revolutionary", is especially popular. The history of its creation is widely known: on the way to Paris, Chopin learned about the defeat of the Polish uprising. He was in despair. His grief, anger poured out in sounds. This is how an etude appeared, which sounds like a call to fight for the freedom of the motherland.

Everything new that Chopin introduced into piano music had a huge impact on its further development. Many composers who devoted themselves to the piano considered Chopin their teacher...

Listening to music: F. Chopin, Preludes No. 4,6,7,20. Etudes No. 3 op. 10 Es-dur, No. 12 C-moll.

Page 4 of 6

F. Chopin is an outstanding Polish composer I half of XIX century. The composer is a romantic, a famous pianist.
He is the founder of the Polish national school of composers.
F. Chopin is a unique composer, as he wrote practically only piano music.
A characteristic feature of Chopin's style is the combination of chamber lyrics, poetic improvisation with brilliant virtuoso technique.

Main genres:

Mazurkas - about 60 (second period of creativity)
Polonaises - about 20 (1829-1846)
Nocturnes - about 20 (1829-1846)
Etudes - 27 (1828-1839)
Impromptu - 4 (1834-1842)
Waltzes - about 15 (second period of creativity)
Preludes - A cycle of 24 preludes + 2 (1836-1839)
Scherzo - 4 (1831-1842)
Ballads - 4 (1831-1842)
Sonatas - 3 (all periods)
Cello Sonata and other chamber works
Piano Concertos - 2 (1829-1830)
Songs

Features of the musical style of F. Chopin:

Synthesis of romantic and classical traditions
New intonation system:

1. "piano" intonations (piano texture, timbres, color), improvisation
2. folk origins intonations - folk modes, rhythms, harmony, ornamentation, the image of a folk orchestra, variant development,
3. elegiac character of melody, origins - opera arias, recitatives

Brief information about the folk music of Poland

Already in the 7th century, in the notes of Arab merchants, there is evidence of the existence of Polish music.
Mostly Polish folklore consists of monophonic songs, with a close connection between song and dance. They are characterized by syncopations, accents on weak beats.
There are also various folk instruments and wandering instrumental ensembles.
Popular old folk dances: khodzony (predecessor of the polonaise), mazurka, kujawiak, oberek, krakowiak and others. Dancing is characterized by a change from a slow movement to a fast one (variations).
Elements of Polish folklore were widely used by various composers. For example, I.S. Bach and G.F. Telemann wrote polonaises.

mazurkas

For Chopin, the mazurka is a symbol of the homeland. This genre is very important to him.
Most of the mazurkas he wrote while in Paris.
Mazurka, as a genre, is an organic combination of several folk dances (tripartite):

1. Mazur (Mazovia) - incendiary and temperamental dance, "dance of impetuous movements" (Paskhalov), improvisation of the first couple. It is characterized by whimsical rhythm and unpredictability of sharp accents.
2. Kuyaviak (Kuyavia) is a smooth dance similar to a waltz. The period is 4 measures with emphasis on the fourth measure.
3. Oberek (part of Kuyawiak) is a fun dance. Emphasis on the third beat of every second measure.

National features of Chopin's mazurkas:

1. Ostination of dance figures + variation.
2. Dotted rhythm on the first and other beats, accents, syncopations, polymetry.
3. Folk modes: Lydian, Phrygian, variable, with increased 2, polymode.
4. Textured turns imitating a folk orchestra - violin, double bass and bagpipes. Organ points on simple harmonies (T-D-S), fifths, melismatics, characteristic of the folk violin.
5. Combination of song and dance.

Chopin practically does not quote real folk melodies.
His mazurkas are lyric-genre miniatures. They most clearly manifested the national features of Chopin's music.
According to the figurative content, they can be divided into several types:

1. obrazki - pictures, genre scenes (No. 5, 34) - imitation of a folk orchestra, dance movements, major, picturesque.
2. zal - lyrical, psychological (No. 6, 13, 49) - “memories of a mazurka”, minor, sadness.
3. connection of both types
4. concerts - very few

You can listen and watch notes of F. Chopin's mazurkas, as well as his other works (complete works) on the website Chopin: complete music.

List of mazurkas that are most often offered according to the program:

op. 7 #1 [#5] B-dur
op. 7 #2 [#6] a-moll
op. 17 #2 [#11] e-moll
op. 17 #4 [#13] a-moll
op. 24 #2 [#15] C-Dur
op. 30 #3 [#20] Des-Dur
op. 56 #2 [#34] C-Dur
op. 63 #3 [#41] cis minor
op. 67 #3 [#44] C-Dur
op. 68 #2 [#47] a-moll
op. 68 #4 [#49] f-moll
without op. [#52] D-Dur

Polonaise

This is a new genre in professional piano music. Its origins are Polish folklore.
Polonaise is an ancient dance that was formed in the 17th century in the court environment. He received a generalized international character, leaving little of folklore (the era of classicism). There was also a folk polonaise, but it was the ballroom polonaise that became the forerunner and source of Chopin's polonaises.

Chopin's polonaises repeat the evolution of his mazurkas: from dance-ritual music with objective images to free poetry, lyrical moods. Also in the polonaises there are images of national epic heroics.

Character traits polonaises by F. Chopin:
Tripartite solemn dance-procession (usually balls were opened with a polonaise). Characteristic rhythmic figure:
Marching, picturesque (virtuosity of style), complex texture and harmony, orchestral sound of the piano.

Polonaise according to the program:

Etudes

In the etude genre, Chopin strives for pianistic expressiveness, the artistry of the miniature, and not just for the technical complexity that is a prerequisite for this genre.
The forerunners of Chopin's etudes are works by N. Paganini, accompaniments in songs by F. Schubert and sonatas by D. Scarlatti.
Each study is a new technique, a finished miniature, one artistic image.

Program sketches:

Nocturnes(translated nocturne - night song)

In the 18th century, a nocturne was a suite-type orchestral work intended to be performed in the evening or at night by an ensemble of wind or string instruments. The founder of the romantic type of solo piano nocturnes is John Field (an Irishman who lived in Russia).
Nocturne was one of the favorite genres in the 19th century, thanks to its intimate, lyrical character, chamber pianism.
The nocturne is characterized by cantilena themes, close to Italian opera and song melodies, and an accompanying background, a swaying accompaniment built according to the “overtone principle”.
In Chopin's nocturnes, one can trace various genre connections - a song, a serenade, a duet, a chorale, a march.
In Nocturne No. 13, the images outgrow the intimate themes characteristic of nocturnes, and generalize the tragic images, the grief of many people.
Analysis of the genre foundations of the Nocturne No. 13 theme in c-moll.

Nocturnes according to the program:

impromptu

Hybrid genre (etude + nocturne), but closer to nocturne.
The origins of F. Chopin's impromptu are F. Schubert's impromptu

Impromptu Fantasy op. 66 [#4] cis minor

waltzes

Waltzes by F. Chopin are concert poetic miniatures. In them, signs of salonity, everyday life and programmatic character, characteristic of the waltzes of that time (this is the heyday of the ballroom waltz), are viewed through the prism of poetic lyrics.

Waltzes: according to the program

op. 18 [#1] Es-Dur (Great Brilliant Waltz)
op. 64 #1 [#6] As-Dur
op. 64 #2 [#7] cis minor
op. 69 #2 [#10] h-moll

Preludes

The genre of prelude appeared in the organ-clavier music of the late Renaissance. The prelude was a free improvisation before the performance of the main piece, which was not recorded.

In the era of I.S. The Bach prelude is an introduction and contrast to the main part (fugue or chorale), or an introduction to an instrumental concert by A. Corelli, G. Handel. This is how the genre of prelude is gradually formed.

In the 19th century, the prelude turns from an auxiliary, episodic genre into one of the leading genres, becoming the bearer of romantic tendencies in music. In the 19th century, this is a free, improvisational, tonally unstable, harmonious and coloristic miniature.

F. Chopin's preludes combine romantic imagery with classical logic and clarity. Genre bases are shown in relief in Chopin's preludes.

Cycle: 24 Preludes for Piano

The preludes are tonally arranged in a circle of fifths: major + parallel minor, they are all diverse in imagery and means of expression.
There is a single line of development, although the preludes are compared with each other in contrast according to the “ebb and flow” principle.
Each prelude is only one image, one psychological state. It is concise and concise.
After Chopin, many composers turned to the prelude genre (and the cycle of preludes): S. Rachmaninov, K. Lyadov, A. Scriabin, K. Debussy, D. Shostakovich and others.

24 Preludes for Piano op. 28:

No. 1 C-Dur, No. 2 a-moll, No. 3 G-Dur, No. 4 e-moll, No. 5 D-Dur, No. 6 h-moll, No. 7 A-Dur, No. 8 fis-moll, No. 9 E-Dur, No. 10 cis-moll, No. 11 H-Dur, No. 12 gis-moll, No. 13 Fis-Dur, No. 14 es-moll, No. 15 Des-Dur, No. 16 b-moll, No. 17 As- Dur, No. 18 f-moll, No. 19 Es-dur, No. 20 c-minor, No. 21 B-dur, No. 22 g-moll, No. 23 F-dur, No. 24 d-moll

Sonatas and scherzos

Chopin represents the principle of updating classical forms.
Chopin's scherzo for the first time becomes an independent large form.

Sonata No. 1 op. 4 c-minor (1827-1828)
Sonata No. 2 op. 35 b-moll (1837-1839)
Sonata No. 3 op. 58 h-moll (1844)

Sonata №2 b-moll

This is an "instrumental drama" in which all parts are interconnected. The development of the idea goes from a feeling of personal to a feeling of worldwide hopelessness.
By the way, Chopin himself, if he performed the funeral march from the 2nd part of the sonata, then after it he could no longer play anything, and wanted the march to be burned after his death.

Sonata op. 35 [#2] b-moll:

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 (Funeral March), Part 4

ballads

Chopin is the creator of the instrumental ballad genre.

The ballad, as a genre, originated in the Renaissance. In the 16th century - ballade in France and folk ballads in England.
At the end of the 18th century English writer Thomas Percy in his collection Relics of Ancient English Poetry (1765) published old folk ballads, the plots of which were later widely used in music.

The ballad was very attractive to composers and romantic writers:

1. idealization of antiquity
2. appeal to national and folk themes in creativity
3. fantastic and mystical images
4. synthesis of music and poetry

Genre of musical ballad, features:

1. Development obeys the plot
2. Must be dramatic episodes
3. Tragic denouement at the end
4. Fantastic imagery

From here comes the free form of the ballad, and the search for new means of musical expression, characteristic of fantastic, folk, epic and dramatic images.

F. Chopin's ballad is an interaction of romantic features and "Chopin's".
In Polish literature, the ballad genre is represented in the works of J. Nemtsevich, A. Mickiewicz, often these are ballads of patriotic themes.
In Chopin's ballads, the musical development is generalized, there are no direct associations with literary ballads, only the "spirit" remains.

1. contrasting episodes on different figurative planes (fantasy - reality)
2. synthetic reprise (synthesis of contrasting themes)
3. epic speech intonations
4. synthesis of various musical forms

Concert op. 11 [№1] for piano and orchestra e-moll

POLISH Nugget FREDERICK CHOPIN

The brilliant composer differed in many ways from most of his predecessors and even contemporaries. He wrote works only for the piano.

This unique creator left us no opera, no symphony, no overture. That is why his composing talent becomes so striking, because Chopin managed to become an innovator of piano music.

Crying to the sound of music

Little virtuoso Frederic Chopin

The debut of the little pianist took place in Warsaw. Then he was barely seven years old. The first concert was successful, and the news of the young talent quickly spread throughout the city. Chopin's performing talent developed so rapidly that at a very young age, Frederic was on the same level. with the best Polish pianists.

Teacher Zhivny even refused lessons with a little virtuoso. He said that he could no longer teach Frederick anything. In parallel with his music studies, Chopin received an excellent general education. He was fluent in French and German, studied the history of Poland and devoured volumes fiction. The young man drew well, was distinguished by a sharp mind, observation and amazing mimic talent, which could guarantee him a theatrical career. But since childhood, he chose the only path for himself - music.

At the same time, there is a special interest in Frederic Chopin inspired by folk music. While walking along the outskirts of the city, he could stop at some house and listen with hope to the folk tunes coming from there. Folklore became related to the essence of the composer himself and became inseparable from his work.

The best pianist in the country

After graduating from the Lyceum Frederick entered the Higher School of Music. There, his development continued under the guidance of an experienced teacher and composer Joseph Elsner. He quickly realized that in front of him was not just talent, but a real genius. He even wrote about this in the description given to the young performer. By this time, the young man had already been recognized as the best pianist in the country. During these years, his composing talent also matured. This is confirmed by two concertos for piano and orchestra written in 1829-1830. Now pianists from different countries invariably include these works in their repertoire.

At the same time Chopin fell in love for the first time. He experienced tender feelings for the young singer Constance Gladkovskaya from the Warsaw Conservatory. It was under the influence of this that Frederick created the song "Desire".

Farewell to the motherland

The young musician visited Vienna, where he gave several concerts that were successful with the public. His family realized that a virtuoso pianist could go on a real concert tour. But Chopin I hesitated to take this step for a long time. He had a bad feeling. It seemed to the composer that he was forever leaving homeland. After lengthy deliberation, in the fall of 1830, Frederick left Warsaw, taking with him a goblet with Polish soil donated by friends.

Unfortunately, his premonitions did not deceive him. Chopin parted with his native land forever. Remembering the wonderful reception he received in Vienna, Frederick decided to start his tour from there. But, despite all the efforts, the musician did not manage to organize an independent concert, and publishers were in no hurry to buy his works for publication.

Unexpectedly, disturbing news came from Poland. Polish patriots organized an uprising against Russian tsarism. Frederick decided to suspend his tour and return to his homeland, but relatives insisted that he not come to avoid persecution. Reluctantly heart Chopin obeyed his relatives and left for Paris.

On the way to the capital of France, Frederick was overtaken by another news: the uprising was brutally suppressed, its leaders were thrown into prison and exiled to Siberia. He arrived in Paris already with his famous sketch, which was later called "revolutionary". He spent the rest of his life there, although France could not become a second home for the composer. In all his affections, as well as in creativity Frederick remained a true Pole.

Hats off, Chopin is in front of you!

First, he conquered Paris with his performing arts - the audience was amazed by his unusual style of playing the piano. Against the background of the technically perfect performing skills of other pianists, his playing was surprisingly spiritual and poetic. The memories of the eminent Hungarian virtuoso pianist and composer about the first Paris concert Chopin. He wrote that the growing applause could not fully express admiration for the talent of young Frederick.

During performances, the Polish genius most often performed his own works: piano concertos, mazurkas, etudes, concert rondos, nocturnes and variations on a theme from the opera Don Giovanni. It was about them that the German composer wrote an enthusiastic phrase: "Hats off, gentlemen, before you is a genius."

Everyone was fascinated by Chopin, only the publishers took a wait-and-see attitude. They agreed to publish his works, but only for free. Frederic was forced to give many hours of daily music lessons in order to earn his living. This work brought him income, but took a lot of effort and so much precious time. Even being a world-famous composer, he could not leave these exhausting studies.

With thoughts of Poland

The popularity of the composer and pianist helped expand the circle of acquaintances. His friends were Franz Liszt, French composer Hector Berlioz, artist Eugene Delacroix and the German poet Heinrich Heine. But no matter how interesting he was with new comrades, he never forgot about his compatriots. For example, for the sake of a guest from home Chopin could radically change the strict routine of his day and go on a tour of Paris with him. Frederick spent hours listening to stories about Poland and the Poles. And when the poet Adam Mickiewicz came to him, the composer sat down at the instrument and played the favorite works of a close friend for a long time. Only Chopin's music helped Mickiewicz ease the pain of separation from his homeland. Thanks to Adam, Frederick had his first ballad. The musician's second ballad is also connected with the images of Mickiewicz's works.

Love is poison

Meetings with friends and compatriots were very dear to the composer, because he did not have his own family. He wanted to marry Maria Wodzińska from a noble Polish family, but her parents categorically were against this marriage. For many years Chopin connected his fate with the French writer Aurora Dudevant, who is better known under the pseudonym George Sand.

It is worth noting that not much reliable information about the history of their relationship has been preserved. For example, Franz Liszt in his book spoke quite unequivocally that it was the writer who caused the composer's early death. One of Frederick's close friends, Wojciech Grzymala, also said that Aurora poisoned Chopin's existence and was responsible for his sudden death. His student Wilhelm Lenz even called it a poisonous plant. He was outraged by the dismissive attitude of George Sand, which she showed towards the composer, even in the presence of strangers.

Famous but lonely

Over the years, he gave concerts less and less, he limited himself to performing music in a narrow circle of close people. This allowed him to devote himself entirely to creativity. He wrote sonatas, impromptu, scherzos, ballads, new series studies, nocturnes, preludes, favorite polonaises and mazurkas. But along with lyrical pieces, dramatic and even tragic works more and more often came out from the composer's pen. For example, the Second Sonata with a funeral march. It became one of the most significant achievements of Chopin and of all Polish music.

In Paris, Frederick's personal life did not work out, but this city favorably influenced his work - it reached the top. His works have become to print for money, to take lessons from the maestro was an honor, and to hear the piano play was a rare happiness.

were also unhappy last years composer. His father died, followed by a break with Aurora. He became lonely and could not bear the blows of fate. From his youth, he suffered from lung disease, and now it has only worsened. In the last two years of his life, he wrote almost nothing. At the invitation of friends, he went to London in the spring of 1848 with concerts, but the damp climate there only worsened his condition. He returned to Paris and died in 1849 in the arms of his sister, who had come to him from Poland.

At Frederick's funeral, his beloved Mozart's Requiem was performed by the best artists of the French capital. He was buried in Paris, but his heart Chopin bequeathed to send to Poland, where it is now kept in the Warsaw Church of the Holy Cross.

DATA

Since childhood, Chopin I had a habit of playing the piano in the dark. Little Frederick is accustomed to sit down at the instrument in the dark. Only in in such an environment he felt inspired. Later, speaking at parties, he always asked to dim the lights in the room.

Brilliant mind and ingenuity were manifested in Frederic in different guises. As a teenager, he was unable to play complex chords as his fingers lacked stretch. This forced the boy to come up with a device that helped him stretch his ligaments. The design caused the young man terrible pain, but he did not take it off even at night.

Updated: April 7, 2019 by: Elena

Polish composer and virtuoso pianist, teacher

short biography

Fryderyk Chopin, full name - Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin (Polish Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin, also Polish Szopen); full name in French transcription - Frederic Francois Chopin (fr. Frédéric François Chopin) (March 1 (according to other sources, February 22) 1810, the village of Zhelyazova-Wola, near Warsaw, the Duchy of Warsaw - October 17, 1849, Paris, France) - Polish composer and pianist. In his mature years (since 1831) he lived and worked in France. One of the leading representatives of Western European musical romanticism, the founder of the Polish national school of composers. He had a significant impact on world music.

Origin and family

The composer's father, Nicolas Chopin (1771-1844), from a simple family, moved from France to Poland in his youth. Since 1802, he lived on the estate of Count Skarbek Zhelyazov-Vol, where he worked as a teacher of the count's children.

In 1806 Nicolas Chopin married Justine Krzyzanowska (1782-1861), a distant relative of the Skarbeks Tekla. The Krzyzhanovski (Krzhizhanovski) family of the Pig coat of arms dates back to the 14th century and owned the village of Krzyzhanovo near Koscyan. Vladimir Krzhizhanovsky, the nephew of Justina Krzyzhanovskaya, also belonged to the Krzyzhanovsky family. According to the surviving testimonies, the composer's mother received a good education, spoke French, was extremely musical, played the piano well, possessed beautiful voice. Frederick owes his first musical impressions to his mother, the love of folk melodies instilled from infancy.

Zhelyazova Volya, where Chopin was born, and Warsaw, where he lived from 1810 to 1830, during the Napoleonic Wars until 1813 were on the territory of the Duchy of Warsaw, a vassal of the Napoleonic Empire, and after May 3, 1815, following the results of the Vienna Congress - on the territory of the Kingdom Polish (Królestwo Polskie), vassal of the Russian Empire.

In the autumn of 1810, some time after the birth of his son, Nicolas Chopin moved to Warsaw. In the Warsaw Lyceum, thanks to the patronage of the Skarbeks, he got a place after the death of the teacher, Pan Mahe. Chopin was a French teacher and German and French literature, maintained a boarding school for pupils of the lyceum.

The intelligence and sensitivity of the parents soldered all family members with love and had a beneficial effect on the development of gifted children. In addition to Fryderyk, there were three sisters in the Chopin family: the eldest, Ludwika, married to Endrzeevich, who was his especially close and devoted friend, and the younger ones, Isabella and Emilia. The sisters had versatile abilities, and Emilia, who died early, had an outstanding literary talent.

Childhood

Already in childhood, Chopin showed extraordinary musical abilities. He was surrounded by special attention and care. Like Mozart, he impressed those around him with his musical “obsession”, inexhaustible imagination in improvisations, and inborn pianism. His susceptibility and musical impressionability manifested themselves violently and unusually. He could cry while listening to music, jump up at night to pick up a memorable melody or chord on the piano.

In its January issue for 1818, one of the Warsaw newspapers published a few lines about the first piece of music composed by a composer who was studying back in primary school. “The author of this Polonaise,” the newspaper wrote, “is a student who is not yet 8 years old. This is a real genius of music, with the greatest ease and exceptional taste, performing the most difficult piano pieces and composing dances and variations that delight connoisseurs and connoisseurs. If this child prodigy had been born in France or Germany, he would have drawn more attention to himself.

The young Chopin was taught music, placing great hopes on him. The pianist Wojciech Zhivny (1756-1842), a Czech by birth, began to study with a 7-year-old boy. The classes were serious, despite the fact that Chopin, in addition, studied at one of the Warsaw schools. The boy's performing talent developed so rapidly that by the age of twelve, Chopin was not inferior to the best Polish pianists. Zhivny refused to study with the young virtuoso, saying that he could teach him nothing more.

Youth

After graduating from college and completing five years of studies with Zhivny, Chopin began his theoretical studies with the composer Józef Elsner.

The Ostrozski Palace is the seat of the Warsaw Chopin Museum.

The patronage of Prince Anton Radziwill and the princes Chetvertinsky introduced Chopin into high society, which was impressed by Chopin's charming appearance and refined manners. Here is what Franz Liszt said about this: “The general impression of his personality was quite calm, harmonious and, it seemed, did not require additions in any comments. Chopin's blue eyes shone more with intelligence than they were veiled with thoughtfulness; his soft and thin smile never turned bitter or sarcastic. The subtlety and transparency of the color of his face tempted everyone; he had curly blond hair, a slightly rounded nose; he was of small stature, frail, thin build. His manners were refined, varied; the voice is a little tired, often muffled. His manners were full of such decency, they had such a stamp of blood aristocracy that he was involuntarily met and received like a prince ... to no interests. Chopin was usually cheerful; his sharp mind quickly found the funny even in such manifestations that not everyone catches the eye.

Trips to Berlin, Dresden, Prague, where he attended concerts of outstanding musicians, diligently visited opera houses and art galleries, contributed to his further development.

mature years. Abroad

Since 1829, Chopin's artistic activity began. He performs in Vienna, Krakow, performing his works. Returning to Warsaw, he leaves it forever on November 5, 1830. This separation from his homeland became the cause of his constant hidden grief - longing for his homeland. In 1830, news arrived that an uprising for independence had broken out in Poland. Chopin dreamed of returning to his homeland and taking part in the battles. The preparations are over, but on the way to Poland he was caught by terrible news: the uprising was crushed, the leader was taken prisoner. Having passed Dresden, Vienna, Munich, Stuttgart, he arrived in Paris in 1831. On the way, Chopin wrote a diary (the so-called "Stuttgart Diary") reflecting his state of mind during his stay in Stuttgart, where he was overcome by despair due to the collapse of the Polish uprising. Chopin deeply believed that his music would help his native people achieve victory. "Poland will be brilliant, powerful, independent!" - so he wrote in his diary. During this period, Chopin wrote his famous "Revolutionary Etude".

Chopin gave his first concert in Paris at the age of 22. The success was complete. Chopin rarely performed in concerts, but in the salons of the Polish colony and the French aristocracy, Chopin's fame grew extremely quickly, Chopin gained many loyal fans, both in artistic circles and in society. Kalkbrenner highly appreciated the pianism of Chopin, who nevertheless offered him his lessons. However, these lessons quickly ceased, but the friendship between the two great pianists continued for many years. In Paris, Chopin surrounded himself with young talented people who shared with him a devoted love of art. His entourage included the pianist Ferdinand Hiller, the cellist Francomm, the oboist Brodt, the flutist Tulon, the pianist Stamati, the cellist Vidal, and the violist Urban. He also kept in touch with the major European composers of his time, among whom were Mendelssohn, Bellini, Liszt, Berlioz, Schumann.

Over time, Chopin began teaching himself; the love of teaching piano was the hallmark of Chopin, one of the few great artists who devoted much time to it.

In 1837, Chopin felt the first attack of a lung disease (most likely it was tuberculosis). A lot of grief in addition to parting with the bride brought him in the late thirties love for George Sand (Aurora Dupin). Staying in Mallorca (Majorca) with George Sand had a negative impact on Chopin's health, he suffered from bouts of illness there. However, many greatest works, including 24 preludes, were created on this Spanish island. But he spent a lot of time in the countryside in France, where George Sand had an estate in Nohant.

A ten-year cohabitation with George Sand, full of moral trials, greatly undermined Chopin's health, and the break with her in 1847, in addition to causing him considerable stress, deprived him of the opportunity to rest in Nohant. Wanting to leave Paris in order to change the situation and expand his circle of acquaintances, Chopin went to London in April 1848 to give concerts and teach. This turned out to be his last trip. Frederic Chopin's last public concert took place on November 16, 1848 in London. Success, a nervous, stressful life, a damp British climate, and most importantly, a periodically aggravated chronic illness lungs, - all this finally undermined his strength. Returning to Paris, Chopin died on October 5 (17), 1849.

About Chopin deeply mourned the whole music world. Thousands of fans of his work gathered at his funeral. According to the wish of the deceased, at his funeral, the most famous artists of that time performed Mozart's "Requiem" - a composer whom Chopin put above all others (and called his "Requiem" and the "Jupiter" symphony his favorite works), and his own prelude was also performed No. 4 (E-minor). In the Père Lachaise cemetery, Chopin's ashes rest between the graves of Luigi Cherubini and Bellini. The composer bequeathed that his heart be transported to Poland after his death. Chopin's heart was, according to his will, sent to Warsaw, where it was walled up in a column of the Church of the Holy Cross.

Creation

As noted in encyclopedic dictionary Brockhaus and Efron N. F. Solovyov,

“Chopin's music abounds in boldness, finesse, and nowhere suffers from whimsicality. If after Beethoven there was an era of novelty of style, then, of course, Chopin is one of the main representatives of this novelty. In everything that Chopin wrote, in his wonderful musical contours, a great musician-poet is visible. This is noticeable in finished typical etudes, mazurkas, polonaises, nocturnes, etc., in which inspiration flows over the edge. If there is a certain reflectivity in anything, it is in the sonatas and concertos, but nevertheless amazing pages appear in them, as, for example, the funeral march in the sonata op. 35, adagio in the second concerto.

Among the best works of Chopin, in which he put so much soul and musical thought, can be attributed etudes: in them, he introduced, in addition to technique, which before Chopin was the main and almost the only goal, a whole poetic world. These sketches breathe either a youthful impetuous freshness, like, for example, ges-dur, or a dramatic expression (f-moll, c-moll). In these sketches he put first-rate melodic and harmonic beauties. You can't reread all the etudes, but the crown of this wonderful group is the cis-moll etude, which, in its deep content, reached Beethoven's height. How much dreaminess, grace, wondrous music in his nocturnes! In piano ballads, the form of which can be attributed to the invention of Chopin, but especially in polonaises and mazurkas, Chopin is a great national artist, painting pictures of his homeland.

Author of numerous works for piano. He interpreted many genres in a new way: he revived the prelude on a romantic basis, created a piano ballad, poeticized and dramatized dances - mazurka, polonaise, waltz; turned the scherzo into an independent work. Enriched harmony and piano texture; combined classic form with melodic richness and fantasy.

Among the works of Chopin: 2 concertos (1829, 1830), 3 sonatas (1828-1844), fantasy (1842), 4 ballads (1835-1842), 4 scherzos (1832-1842), impromptu, nocturnes, etudes, waltzes, mazurkas , polonaises, preludes and other works for piano; as well as songs. In his piano performance, the depth and sincerity of feelings were combined with elegance and technical perfection.

Chopin in 1849 is the only surviving photograph of the composer.

The most intimate, "autobiographical" genre in Chopin's work is his waltzes. According to the Russian musicologist Isabella Khitrik, the connection between real life Chopin and his waltzes are extremely limited, and the totality of the composer's waltzes can be regarded as a kind of "lyrical diary" of Chopin.

Chopin was distinguished by restraint and isolation, therefore his personality is revealed only to those who know his music well. Many famous artists and writers of that time bowed to Chopin: composers Franz Liszt, Robert Schumann, Felix Mendelssohn, Giacomo Meyerbeer, Ignaz Moscheles, Hector Berlioz, singer Adolf Nurri, poets Heinrich Heine and Adam Mickiewicz, artist Eugene Delacroix, journalist Agathon Giller and many other. Chopin also met professional opposition to his creative creed: for example, one of his main lifetime competitors, Sigismund Thalberg, according to legend, went out into the street after a Chopin concert, shouted loudly and answered his companion’s bewilderment: there was only one piano all evening, so now you need to at least a little forte. (According to contemporaries, Chopin could not play forte at all; the upper limit of his dynamic range was approximately mezzo-forte.)

Artworks

For piano and ensemble or orchestra

• Trio for Piano, Violin and Cello Op. 8 g minor (1829)
• Variations on a Theme from the Opera "Don Giovanni" Op. 2 B-dur (1827)
• Rondo a la Krakowiak Op. 14 (1828)
• "Great Fantasy on Polish Themes" Op. 13 (1829-1830)
• Concerto for Piano and Orchestra Op. 11 e-moll (1830)
• Concerto for Piano and Orchestra Op. 21 f minor (1829)
• "Andante spianato" and the following "Great Brilliant Polonaise" Op. 22 (1830-1834)
• Cello Sonata Op. 65 g-moll (1845-1846)
• Polonaise for cello Op. 3

Mazurkas (58)

• Op.6 - 4 Mazurkas: fis-moll, cis-moll, E-dur, es-moll (1830)
• Op.7 - 5 Mazurkas: B-dur, A-moll, F-moll, As-dur, C-dur (1830-1831)
• Op.17 - 4 mazurkas: B-dur, e-moll, As-dur, a-moll (1832-1833)
• Op.24 - 4 mazurkas: g-moll, C-dur, A-dur, b-moll
• Op.30 - 4 mazurkas: c-moll, h-moll, Des-dur, cis-moll (1836-1837)
• Op.33 - 4 mazurkas: gis-moll, D-dur, C-dur, h-moll (1837-1838)
• Op.41 - 4 Mazurkas: cis-moll, e-moll, H-dur, As-dur
• Op.50 - 3 mazurkas: G-dur, As-dur, cis-moll (1841-1842)
• Op.56 - 3 Mazurkas: H-dur, C-dur, c-moll (1843)
• Op.59 - 3 mazurkas: a-moll, As-dur, fis-moll (1845)
• Op.63 - 3 Mazurkas: H major, f minor, cis minor (1846)
• Op.67 - 4 Mazurkas: G-dur, g-moll, C-dur, No. 4 a-moll 1846 (1848?)
• Op.68 - 4 Mazurkas: C-dur, a-moll, F-dur, No. 4 f-moll (1849)

Polonaise (16)

• Op. 22 Large brilliant polonaise Es-dur (1830-1832)
• Op. 26 No. 1 cis-moll; No. 2 es-moll (1833-1835)
• Op. 40 No. 1 A-dur (1838); No. 2 c-moll (1836-1839)
• Op. 44 fis-moll (1840-1841)
• Op. 53 As-dur (Heroic) (1842)
• Op. 61 As-dur, Polonaise Fantasy (1845-1846)
• woo. No. 1 in d-moll (1827); No. 2 B-dur (1828); No. 3 f-moll (1829)

Nocturnes (total 21)

• Op. 9 b-moll, Es-dur, H-dur (1829-1830)
• Op. 15 F major, Fis major (1830-1831), g minor (1833)
• Op. 27 cis-moll, Des-dur (1834-1835)
• Op. 32 H-dur, As-dur (1836-1837)
• Op. 37 g minor, G major (1839)
• Op. 48 c minor, fis minor (1841)
• Op. 55 f-moll, Es-dur (1843)
• Op. 62 No. 1 H-dur, No. 2 E-dur (1846)
• Op. 72 e-moll (1827)
• Op. posth. cis minor (1830), c minor

Waltzes (19)

• Op. 18 "Great Brilliant Waltz" Es-dur (1831)
• Op. 34 No. 1 "Brilliant Waltz" As-dur (1835)
• Op. 34 No. 2 a-moll (1831)
• Op. 34 No. 3 "Brilliant Waltz" F-dur
• Op. 42 "Great Waltz" As-dur
• Op. 64 No. 1 Des-dur (1847)
• Op. 64 No. 2 cis-moll (1846-1847)
• Op. 64 No. 3 As major
• Op. 69 No. 1 As-dur
• Op. 69 No. 10 H-moll
• Op. 70 No. 1 Ges-dur
• Op. 70 No. 2 f-moll
• Op. 70 No. 2 Des-dur
• Op. posth. e-moll, E-dur, a-moll

Piano sonatas (total 3)

Musical cover of Frederic Chopin's Funeral (Funeral) March, released for the first time as a separate work under this title. Breitkopf & Härtel, Leipzig, 1854 (Breitkopf & Härtel print board no. 8728)

• Op. 4 No. 1 in c-moll (1828)
• Op. 35 No. 2 in b-moll (1837-1839), including the Funeral (Funeral) March (3rd movement: Marche Funèbre)
• Or. 58 No. 3 in b-moll (1844)

Preludes (total 25)

• 24 Preludes Op. 28 (1836-1839)
• Prelude cis-moll op","45 (1841)

Impromptu (total 4)

• Op. 29 As-dur (circa 1837)
• Op, 36 Fis-dur (1839)
• Op. 51 Ges-dur (1842)
• Op. 66 Impromptu Fantasy cis-moll (1834)

Etudes (total 27)

• Op. 10 C-dur, a-moll, E-dur, cis-moll, Ges-dur, es-moll, C-dur, F-dur, f-moll, As-dur, Es-dur, c-moll (1828 -1832)
• Op. 25 As-dur, f-moll, F-dur, a-moll, e-moll, gis-moll, cis-moll, Des-dur, Ges-dur, h-moll, a-moll, c-moll (1831 -1836)
• WoO f-moll, Des-dur, As-dur (1839)

Scherzo (total 4)

• Op. 20h minor (1831-1832)
• Op. 31 b minor (1837)
• Op. 39 cis minor (1838-1839)
• Op. 54 E major (1841-1842)

Ballads (total 4)

• Or. 23 g-moll (1831-1835)
• Op. 38 F-dur (1836-1839)
• Op. 47 As major (1840-1841)
• Op. 52 f-moll (1842-1843)

Other

• Fantasy Op. 49 f-moll (1840-1841)
• Barcarolle Op. 60 Fis-dur (1845-1846)
• Lullaby Op. 57 Des-dur (1843)
• Concert Allegro Op. 46 A major (1840-1841)
• Tarantella Op. 43 As major (1843)
• Bolero Op. 19 C-dur (1833)
• Sonata for Cello and Piano Op. 65 g-moll
• Songs Op. 74 (total 19) (1829-1847)
• Rondo (total 4)

Arrangements and arrangements of Chopin's music

• A. Glazunov. Chopiniana, suite (one-act ballet) from the works of F. Chopin, Op. 46. ​​(1907).
• Jean France. Orchestration of 24 Preludes by F. Chopin (1969).
• S. Rachmaninov. Variations on a Theme by F. Chopin, Op. 22 (1902-1903).
• M. A. Balakirev. Impromptu on the themes of Chopin's two preludes (1907).
• M. A. Balakirev. Re-orchestration of F. Chopin's Piano Concerto in e-moll (1910).
• M. A. Balakirev. Suite for orchestra from the works of F. Chopin (1908).

Memory

Name: Frederic Chopin

Age: 39 years old

Place of Birth: Zielyazova Wola, Poland

A place of death: Paris, France

Activity: Polish composer, pianist, teacher

Family status: not married

Frederic Chopin - Biography

Polish composer who created works for the piano that formed the basis of learning to play the piano. In the arsenal of compositions, Chopin does not have music for orchestra composed by him, but this does not detract from his skill as the creator of the Polish musical school of piano playing.

Childhood, composer's family

Frederick's father was a teacher who was often hired as a tutor for the children. Mother was an intelligent noble origin. Music and poetry are the two main art forms, which were given great attention in the family. In the family, in addition to the only son, there were three girls. Only the boy inherited from his mother the ability to play the piano: she knew how to sing and play the piano beautifully. The whole biography of Chopin, as a composer, was formed thanks to the upbringing laid down in him by his parents. Musical instrument he did not tire the boy for hours, he gladly learned new works, picking up familiar melodies.

From the age of five, the child had already performed with concerts, at the age of seven he was assigned to the well-known pianist Wojciech Zhivny in Poland, who managed to make a piano virtuoso out of a gifted child in five years. In parallel, he was taught composition by Józef Elsner. The young man loves to travel, visit theaters in Berlin, Prague and Dresden. Chopin came to Russia, conquered Alexander I with his playing, and was awarded the imperial diamond ring. Fate favored the gifted young man and entered many successful moments of the musician's life into the pages of his biography.

Concert activity of Chopin

The concerts that made Chopin popular, he begins to give from the age of nineteen. Warsaw and Krakow applauded the talent. The musician goes on tour to Germany, where he learns that an uprising, in favor of which he always spoke out, was suppressed in his homeland. It was impossible to return to Poland, and Frederick was hiding in Paris. The musician is applauded by Vienna and the entire capital of France. Many famous composers have admired Chopin's musical genius. Among them were the German Robert Schumann and the Hungarian composer Franz Liszt.

Chopin's work

The fate of the Motherland excites the composer, and he composed 4 ballads about his beloved country based on the verses of Adam Mickiewicz. He did not limit himself to this and wrote dance melodies, offering admirers of his talent mazurkas, waltzes, polonaises. He is autobiographical in his music, at the same time bringing it closer to folk music.

In his composition and performance, the nocturne familiar to everyone sounds in a new way. Now it's not a quiet night song. This is a description of nature with deep lyrical overtones with tragic experiences of the composer. During the period of Chopin's passion for Bach's work, he created twenty-four preludes, which also expand the possibilities of this classical musical work.

Pedagogical activity of the composer

The Polish composer showed himself as a brilliant creator of a unique technique, which began to be used in teaching young pianists. The teacher had many pupils and students, but only one name entered the history of Polish music: the pianist and music editor Adolf Gutman. Chopin had many friends among real masters in the field of literature, painting and photography. Most of them created portraits of the composer.

Frederic Chopin - biography of personal life

In the personal life of the composer, not everything was as cloudless as in his work. She was full of tragedy. Frederick inherited from his mother a sensitive, tender and vulnerable soul. But he did not find happiness and peace in his women. The first to whom he opened his heart was the young Maria Wodzińska, born in the same way as him, in Poland. An engagement took place, after which the bride's parents decided to make sure that their daughter's fiancé was wealthy. The financial well-being of the composer seemed insufficient to them, and the wedding did not take place. Chopin reflected all his grief in music.

A year later, he became interested in Baroness Aurora Dudevant. She went to men's suit, was an ardent feminist, wrote novels, signing them "George Sand". At the time of her acquaintance with the composer, she was 33 years old, and Frederick was 27 years old. The relationship was hidden from the public for a long time. Meetings of lovers took place on the island of Mallorca, the climate and tension in relations caused Chopin to weaken his body, he fell ill with tuberculosis. In this pair, the strong will of the imperious countess, and the spinelessness and submission of the young composer were noted.

Chopin's death

Frederic Chopin was getting worse. The final break with his beloved plunged the musician into despondency, but he undertakes a trip to the UK with concerts. On the journey, he was accompanied by a student, Jane Stirling. After returning to Paris, he gave several more musical performances, fell ill and did not get out of bed until his death.

All these difficult days, next to the dying composer, his younger sister Ludwika, whom he loved very much with his French friends, was always nearby. Doctors stated that Chopin died from complicated pulmonary tuberculosis. The composer bequeathed to bury his heart in his homeland, and his body in France. Which was exactly what was done, the heart of the great musician rests in the Catholic Church in Warsaw.

Biography by Natsh