(1810-1849)
Frederic Chopin - Poet of the Piano
Frederic Chopin is often referred to as "
The Poet of the Piano." It's said that no one understood the piano better than
Chopin. He could make it sound
romantic and
poetic. Most of Frederic Chopin's
tunes were
short pieces but he could pour out a happy, sad,
passionate or dreamy tune that was perfect in terms of
form and
style.
A Star is Born - Frederic Chopin's Early Days
Frederic Chopin was born in 1810 near
Warsaw, Poland. He began taking
piano lessons when he was six years old and by the time he was seven, he was already
writing his
own music and performing in the homes of
nobles. He had his first composition
published when he was just 15. Although he always considered Poland his home, he relocated to Paris in 1831 to
pursue his love of making
music. The people of
Paris loved his work. Chopin began
teaching music and playing in private homes - something he preferred instead of
concerts.
The Woman Of Frederic Chopin's Dreams
In 1837, Frederic Chopin met and fell
madly in love with
George Sand, a
female novelist who dressed like a man in order to get her works published. They spent the next
ten years together, though they were never
married. Chopin considered Sand a
great inspiration and it is said that his
Waltz in D-flat was written for George Sand's
dog. Waltz in D-flat is also called the
Minute Waltz because it can be played in one minute.
Remembering Frederic Chopin
In the 1840s, it was
trendy for
women and girls in Paris to be students of Frederic Chopin. This trend didn't last long however, because on October 17, 1849 Frederic Chopin
passed away. He had been suffering from
tuberculosis for many years. As he had requested,
Chopin's heart was taken to Warsaw and placed in the
Holy Cross Church where it remains
entombed today.
Related Stories:
Johann Sebastian Bach Biography
Ludwig van Beethoven Biography
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Biography