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the contradiction of Chopin's music
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>
==Works==
Chopin is unique among the great composers in that his output is almost entirely for the solo piano. While the early 19th century witnessed many piano virtuosi who toured and played their own music, Chopin distinguished himself from them by shunning most public performances, preferring to play in salons. He considered himself first and foremost a composer, and developed an aversion to the public displays of virtuosity which were a dime a dozen in early 19th-century Paris. His music was thus born out of an interesting contradiction which still confronts pianists today: it is immensely difficult music to perform, requiring the highest level of piano technique, but the goals are the expression of pure musical poetry. The performer must be both a master of the instrument as well as possessing a noble and unostentatious spirit.
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>