Transcript The Life of Frédéric Chopin

The Life of Frédéric Chopin
“Poet of the Piano”
1810-1849
PowerPoint Lecture presented by Mr. Bonitz
11th Grade Music Appreciation
Preston High School
Overview
Born on March 1,
1810 in Zelazowa,
Poland.
World renowned
virtuosic pianist and
composer.
Known for his
originality in regards
to the piano
Major Works
Chopin composed almost primarily for the
piano and some of his most well known
compositions are listed below.
– Fantaisie in F minor, Op. 49
– Revolutionary Etude, Op. 10, No. 12
– 24 Preludes, Op. 28
Childhood
Family moved to Warsaw, Poland shortly
after Chopin’s birth.
Began playing piano at 4.
Composed two Polonaises (Solemn Polish
Dance) at the age of 7.
Labeled a child “prodigy”
Biography
Studied piano at
Warsaw Conservatory
under Wilhelm Würfel.
Heavily influenced by
Polish folk music.
Finished his formal
education at the
Higher School in
1829.
Biography (cont.)
Traveled Europe giving concerts in places
such as Vienna, Munich, Paris, and
London.
During this time Chopin was constantly
working on new compositions.
War at Home
While in Vienna, there was a revolt in
Poland against the Russian Czar who
ruled the nation.
A war ensued, and eventually Poland fell
completely under Russian control.
War at Home (cont.)
Distraught over the
disaster in Poland,
Chopin nearly had a
nervous breakdown.
As a result of the war,
thousands of Poles
emigrated to less
hostile countries.
Vienna
While staying in
Vienna, Chopin’s
compositions became
more expressive and
helped to create his
own individual style.
Example: Etudes, Op.
10
Paris
In 1831, Chopin arrived in Paris to further his
career.
While there, he met and befriended other
legendary composers such as…
Composers
Franz Lizst (Above Left)
Felix Mendelssohn
(Above)
Robert Schumann (Left)
George Sand
Also while in Paris,
Chopin met and
married the famous
French writer George
Sand.
She was a source of
inspiration as well as
a maternal figure in
Chopin’s life.
Alas…
George Sand (cont.)
The couple separated
in 1847, leaving
Chopin emotionally
crushed.
Chopin’s Death
After that, Chopin’s
health began to
decline.
He was diagnosed
with pulmonary
tuberculosis
Chopin died on
October 17th, 1849, in
Paris.
In Closing
Chopin’s music is
recognized worldwide
for its beauty and
complexity.
His works on the
piano are staples in
the piano repertoire.
Further Listening
Most any of Chopin’s works are critically
acclaimed, but some of his most famous
are:
– Chopin Etudes
– Chopin Impromptus
– Chopin Waltzes
Works Cited
The following websites were used to
create this presentation:
– http://www.chopin.pl
– Classical Music Page
http://w3.rz-berlin.mpg.de/cmp/chopin.html