Fryderyk Chopin

Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849) is a Polish composer and pianist who is considered one of the most important Polish composers in history.
Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin was born in 1810 in Żelazowa Wola. His father, was French by descent, and he inherited noble roots. He matured musically under the watchful eye of his mother. Later it was led by Wojciech Żywny. It was then that he composed the famous piece “Polonaise in B flat major”. He gave concerts in the salons of the Warsaw aristocracy; he also gave charity concerts. Chopin’s early days were inspired by Polish folk music. The year 1826 meant for Chopin an expedition to Berlin, he also visited Vienna, Dresden and Prague. His last concerts were in Vienna, Salzburg, Munich and Stuttgart. It was in Paris, where he settled that he performed exceptionally intensively, intensively enough to make a name for himself as an exceptionally talented pianist and composer. He soon found an eager following among English, German and French publishers who made him famous. At that time, Chopin was also involved in teaching playing and composition, from which he made a considerable income. Moreover, he met many eminent people of that period, including Felix Mendelssohn, Gioachino Rossini, Franz Liszt and Vincenzo Bellini. It was with them that he rubbed shoulders and exchanged views on many topics popular in the salons of the times. The year 1826 meant an extraordinary acquaintance for Chopin – he met George Sand, who became his life partner. They traveled together. Unfortunately, Chopin fell ill with tuberculosis. The artist’s health deteriorated successively. He died on October 17, 1849 in Paris. He remains the greatest of Polish composers and an unforgettably accomplished pianist.

Short Biography

In the years 1823-1826, Fryderyk Chopin studied at the Warsaw Lyceum, where his father worked. Then, at the age of sixteen, he studied under Józef Elsner, who taught the theory of composition at the Warsaw School of Music. As it soon turned out, Chopin’s talent matured exposed to the musical influence of folk dances and songs from the Lublin, Kujawy and Mazovia regions of greater Poland. The turning point was in 1826, when he was able to travel to Berlin, then Vienna, Dresden and Prague. He graduated from the Warsaw School of Music when he was nineteen.
In October 1830, Fryderyk Chopin performed for the last time before an audience in Warsaw, due to the fact that on November 2, 1830, he was to go on a journey through Dresden, then to Vienna, Salzburg, Munich and Stuttgart. Along the way, he wrote a diary called “The Stuttgart Diary” in which he presented his state of mind at the time of the fall of the November Uprising. At that time, the first sketches for the “Revolutionary” Etude were created. Works of this period are characterized by drama, which slowly began to dominate his work.
In 1831, Fryderyk Chopin came to Paris, where he settled permanently. Chopin performed extensively in Paris. He soon made a name for himself, later performing his own songs. His position as a composer and pianist kept growing. Chopin was an excellent composer and his works were published by French, German and English publishers. On the other hand, the main source of Chopin’s income was strictly didactic activity. He could not complain about the lack of students, especially as attracted many being an extremely outgoing person. Such as: Franz Liszt, Vincenzo Bellini, Gioachino Rossini and Felix Mendelssohn were his companions in conversation and composition, and of course also many others that cannot be mentioned.
In 1836 he finally met the love of life, the writer George Sand. She became the subject of his inspiration, his life partner, having a significant, if not decisive, impact on the composer’s life. They traveled together, visiting Majorca, Marseille and Genoa.
Illness and death
Meanwhile, Fryderyk Chopin fell ill with tuberculosis. From 1839, the patient’s health deteriorated. In 1848 he made his last journey. He toured England and Scotland, giving his last public concert in London on November 16, 1848 after which he became seriously ill. Upon his return to Paris, he was already on the verge of terminal decline. He died at the tender age of 39 on October 17, 1849. He was buried in the Pere Lachaise cemetery in Paris. Chopin’s heart is located in Warsaw – it is embedded in the Church of St. Cross at Krakowskie Przedmieście.
Fryderyk Chopin is recognized as the greatest Polish composer and an outstanding pianist. He remains the leading representative of the music of the Romantic period. It is no coincidence that he received the nickname “piano poet”. Chopin’s work is characterized by extraordinary sensitivity. He drew both from the classics and Polish folk music, and appreciated both equally. Today, Chopin’s name means artistry elaborated in the smallest details. Chopin concerts enjoy unflagging interest, if only because of the artist’s profile. He had a deep respect for the artistic achievements of Mozart and Bach. For example, in an act of love for Mozart, he wrote “Variations in B flat major”, and for Bach – “Fugue in A minor”. He did not like romanticism, even though he has been called a romantic. His only nod to the Romantic era were “Ballades in F major” and “G minor”. They were composed according to the composer himself on the theme of “Świteź Lake” and “Świtezianka” by Mickiewicz. From the beginning of composing, Chopin had an exceptional inclination towards Polish themes. He was particularly interested in Polish folk dances – mazurkas, obereks, polonaises and kujawiaks, elements ofwhich he included in the famous Polonaises and Mazurkas.
Interesting facts about Fryderyk Chopin

He suffered from depression—despite outward appearnces.
He received the nickname “the piano poet”.
Chopin did not like romanticism, even though he was called a romantic.
He was particularly interested in Polish folk dances – mazurkas, obereks, polonaises and kujawiaks, elements of which he included in the famous Polonaises and Mazurkas.
The latest research indicates that the cause of the composer’s death was most likely cystic fibrosis.
The crater on Mercury was named after him.
Young Chopin’s father wanted, above all else, that his son would fulfill his unrealized ambitions. He was a dominating man towards his son, which initially made Fryderyk hate music completely.
Fryderyk Chopin, like his father, was very strict with his students.
Chopin obsessively feared that he would be buried alive.