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'''Frédéric Chopin''' (March 1, 1810 – October 17, 1849) was an important Franco-Polish composer and [[pianist]] of the early nineteenth century. Arguably he was the first composer for [[piano]] to apply the [[Romantic period (music)|Romantic]] ethos to piano technique - his works make physical demands of the performer that surpass the late works of [[Beethoven]], at least in terms of the expression of raw emotion.

'''Frédéric Chopin''' (March 1, 1810 – October 17, 1849) was an important Franco-Polish composer and [[pianist]] of the early nineteenth century. Arguably he was the first composer for [[piano]] to apply the [[Romantic period (music)|Romantic]] ethos to piano technique - his works make physical demands of the performer that surpass the late works of [[Beethoven]], at least in terms of the expression of raw emotion.

Nevertheless, his romanticism concealed a craftsman thoroughly schooled in older [[Counterpoint|contrapuntal]] and [[harmony|harmonic]] methods - he was an avid admirer of [[JS Bach]], and his works reveal a masterly combination of textural and harmonic innovation combined with old school discipline.<ref>George Marek R. and Maria Gordon-Smith,'' Chopin. A biography''. Harper & Row, New York, San Francisco, London 1978.</ref>

Nevertheless, his romanticism concealed a craftsmanship thoroughly schooled in older [[Counterpoint|contrapuntal]] and [[harmony|harmonic]] methods - he was an avid admirer of [[JS Bach]], and his works reveal a masterly combination of textural and harmonic innovation combined with old school discipline.<ref>George Marek R. and Maria Gordon-Smith,'' Chopin. A biography''. Harper & Row, New York, San Francisco, London 1978.</ref>

His works were mostly published as collections of short pieces, with the exception of the Concerti and Sonatas. They are often grouped by category, as follows:<ref>Michałowski, Kornel/Samson, Jim: "Chopin, Fryderyk Franciszek", Grove Music Online, ed. L. Macy (subscription required).[http://www.grovemusic.com]</ref>

His works were mostly published as collections of short pieces, with the exception of the Concerti and Sonatas. They are often grouped by category, as follows:<ref>Michałowski, Kornel/Samson, Jim: "Chopin, Fryderyk Franciszek", Grove Music Online, ed. L. Macy (subscription required).[http://www.grovemusic.com]</ref>

* [[Études (Chopin)|Etudes]] - two sets of 12 and one set of three technical studies for piano that to this day are regarded as a watershed in the progress of any pianist.  Unlike those of previous composers such as Czerny and Cramer, Chopin's etudes combine technical difficulty with musical expression, thus helping to popularize the form.

* [[Études (Chopin)|Études]] - two sets of 12 and one set of three technical studies for piano that to this day are regarded as a watershed in the progress of any pianist.  Unlike those of previous composers such as Czerny and Cramer, Chopin's Études combine technical difficulty with musical expression, thus helping to popularize the form.

* [[Nocturne]]s - slow, dreamlike pieces. The form was originally pioneered by the Irish composer [[John Field]].

* [[Nocturne]]s - slow, dreamlike pieces. The form was originally pioneered by the Irish composer [[John Field]].

* Mazurkas - an adaptation of a native Polish dance form. These miniatures often show Chopin at his most harmonically adventurous.

* Mazurkas - an adaptation of a native Polish dance form. These miniatures often show Chopin at his most harmonically adventurous.