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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. Writing almost entirely for the solo piano, Chopin revolutionized the way the instrument was played, and moreover the relationship between the performer and the instrument. He was on of the first composers 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 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>

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>