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[[image:Eug%C3%A8ne_Ferdinand_Victor_Delacroix_043.jpg|thumb|200px|right|The most famous portrait of Chopin, painted by [[Eugene Delacroix]] in 1838 (It is a fragment cut out of a larger painting portraying Chopin beside George Sand [http://www.wga.hu/frames-e.html?/html/d/delacroi/3/313delac.html]).]]

[[image:Eug%C3%A8ne_Ferdinand_Victor_Delacroix_043.jpg|thumb|200px|right|The most famous portrait of Chopin, painted by [[Eugene Delacroix]] in 1838 (It is a fragment cut out of a larger painting portraying Chopin beside George Sand [http://www.wga.hu/frames-e.html?/html/d/delacroi/3/313delac.html]).]]

'''Frédéric François Chopin''' (Polish '''Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin''', March 1, 1810 – October 17, 1849) was an important Franco-Polish composer and [[pianist]] of the early nineteenth century. In his voluminous compositions for the solo piano, practically all of which have remained in the standard repertoire, Chopin revolutionized the way the instrument was played, and moreover the relationship between the performer and the instrument. He was one 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.

'''Frédéric François Chopin''' (Polish '''Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin''', March 1, 1810 – October 17, 1849) was an important Franco-Polish [[composer]] and [[pianist]] of the early nineteenth century. In his voluminous compositions for the solo piano, practically all of which have remained in the standard repertoire, Chopin revolutionized the way the instrument was played, and moreover the relationship between the performer and the instrument. He was one 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 [[J.S. 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 [[J.S. 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>  Unlike other composers, most of Chopin's works were for piano solo.

 

“Deeply religious and honestly devoted to [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholicism]], Chopin never spoke openly about it, keeping the matters of [[faith]] to himself and never manifesting them to the outside world.”<ref>Liszt (1852, p. 114), https://www.tumblr.com/ohchopin/190418783565/as-a-catholic-chopin-took-a-conservative-stance</ref>

==Life and Character==

==Life and Character==

Chopin was born in the village of Żelazowa Wola, [[Poland]], to a father who was a French national and a Polish mother. The family later moved to Warsaw when Chopin's father was offered a job teaching French. Chopin was a child prodigy, and through his father's connections with other intellectuals and aristocrats, he was able to travel outside of Poland at an early age to give concerts. This culminated in a series of concerts in [[Vienna]] in 1830, which were greeted with acclaim. During this sojourn, however, the November Uprising broke out in Poland, and Chopin found himself stranded in Vienna. He wandered through [[Munich]] and Stuttgart, before finally settling in [[Paris]], where he would remain on and off for the rest of his life.

Chopin was born in the village of Żelazowa Wola, [[Poland]], to a father who was a French national and a Polish mother. The family later moved to [[Warsaw]] when Chopin's father was offered a job teaching French. Chopin was a child prodigy, and through his father's connections with other intellectuals and aristocrats, he was able to travel outside of Poland at an early age to give concerts. This culminated in a series of concerts in [[Vienna]] in 1830, which were greeted with acclaim. During this sojourn, however, the November Uprising broke out in Poland, and Chopin found himself stranded in Vienna. He wandered through [[Munich]] and Stuttgart, before finally settling in [[Paris]], where he would remain on and off for the rest of his life.

Chopin quickly made for himself a good living teaching piano, and made friends among the aristocracy, as well as among the intellectual and musical elite of the French capital. He also played many concerts in aristocratic salons, and continuously composed ground-breaking piano works. He most closely identified with Polish dance forms, which found an eager audience among Parisians, who sympathized with the Polish revolutionary cause.

Chopin quickly made for himself a good living teaching piano, and made friends among the aristocracy, as well as among the intellectual and musical elite of the French capital. He also played many concerts in aristocratic salons, and continuously composed ground-breaking piano works. He most closely identified with Polish dance forms, which found an eager audience among Parisians, who sympathized with the Polish revolutionary cause.

In 1836, he met the radical [[feminist]] and author [[George Sand]], the pen name of a Baronness Duvant, and they began a high-profile relationship which would continue for the next 10 years. The couple spent a miserable winter in Majorca and several years in Sand's country estate of Nohant, where Chopin wrote some of his greatest works. He was however always hindered by poor health, and showed early signs of the [[tuberculosis]] which ultimately killed him.

In 1836, he met the radical [[feminist]] and author George Sand, the pen name of a Baronness Dudevant. In 1838 they began a high-profile relationship which would continue for the next 9 years. The couple spent a miserable winter in Majorca and several years in Sand's country estate of Nohant, where Chopin wrote some of his greatest works. He was however always hindered by poor health, and showed early signs of the [[tuberculosis]] which ultimately killed him.

Chopin and Sand parted company in 1847, after a series of disputes among Sand's children. His health continued to worsen, and after a brief stay in [[London]], Chopin died in 1849.

Chopin and Sand parted company in 1847, after a series of disputes among Sand's children. His health continued to worsen, and after a brief stay in [[London]], Chopin died in 1849.

==Works==

==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 in possession of a noble and unostentatious spirit.

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 in possession of a noble and unostentatious spirit.

Many of his works were published as collections of short pieces, after the tastes of the Parisian market. 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>

Many of his works were published as collections of short pieces, after the tastes of the Parisian market. 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>

*[[Music]]

*[[Music]]

*[[Sound]]

*[[Sound]]

== References ==

== References ==

[[Category:Composers]]

[[Category:Composers]]

[[Category:Pianists]]

[[Category:Pianists]]