Fryderyk Chopin (jan 1, 1810 – jan 1, 1849)

Description:

Nationality: Polish

Chopin was born near Warsaw to a French father and Polish mother in a section of Poland that was under Russian domination. By age 7, he had published his first piece and made his concert debut as a piano concerto soloist. Following his musical training, his pieces with a strong Polish character were especially successful, encouraging him to write more. This national flavor and brilliant virtuosity of his music also won him a strong following in Poland. At the failed November Uprising in 1831, Chopin relocated to Paris and would never again return to Poland.

In Paris, he connected with Rossini, Meyerbeer, Berlioz, and Liszt, entering into the highest social circles. Becoming a popular and elite piano teacher, his high lesson fees allowed him to make very exclusive performance appearances (mainly private concerts and salons). This scarcity of performance allowed him to push his private lesson fees even higher.

National Traditions
Chopin's mazurkas represent a Polish national tradition, while his nocturnes represent a cosmopolitan tradition. He borrowed the name "nocturne" and its concept from Irish composer John Field, who drew from Italian opera's embellished singing style. Thus, nocturne texture is essentially an ornamented song over arpeggiated accompaniment.

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