Transcript Frederic chopin

As presented by,
Devin Alvey
• Born on March 1, 1810 in
Zelazowa Wola, Poland (Near
Warsaw).
• Father was a Frenchman,
mother was of Polish decent
Early Childhood
• Received above average musical education
• At the age of six began studying piano with Wojciech Zywny,
who was a violin and music teacher from Czech and also
introduced Frederic to the music of Bach.
• Studied harmony with Jozef Elsner
Early Childhood
• Composed first piece at the age of seven, Polonaise in G
Minor
• Polonaise in G Minor was instantly recognized as a
masterpiece and published in the town publication, Warsaw
Diary
• First public performance was at the age of eight at a charity
concert at the Blue Palace, which was a palace built by Polish
royalty
Family and Friends
• Nicolas Chopin – Father
• Justyna Krzyżanowska – Mother
• Ludwika and Izabela – Sisters
• Ludwika was the oldest and wisest sister who advised Frederic,
and was requested by Frederic to be by his side when he was on
his deathbed
• Tytus Woyciechowski – two years older than Frederic, also studied
with Wojciech Zywny, remained a life-long friend of Frederic
Paris
• Chopin moved to Paris in September 1831
• Romantic Era in full blossom
• Frederic was introduced to important figures such as Ferdinando
Paer, who helped Chopin enter a circle of revered musicians
First Works in Paris
• Nocturnes of Opp. 9 and 15
• 12 Etudes
• Scherzo in B-flat minor, Op. 31
• Sonata in B-flat minor Op. 35
• G minor Ballade, Op. 23
Romantic Interest
• Aurore Dudevant, best known as George Sand, was
a famous novelist.
• Combined talents with Chopin to help him produce
numerous masterpieces
• Became romantic lovers
Illness
• Chopin underwent a spell of tuberculosis in 1838
• Still produced numerous masterpieces:
• Ballades in A-flat, Op.47, and F minor, Op. 52
• Mazurkas of Opp. 50, 56, 59, 63, 67
• A-flat major Polonaise, Op. 53
• Nocturnes of Opp. 48, 55, and 62
• Sonata in B minor, Op. 58
Last Performance
• February 16, 1848, Chopin played his last concert in Paris
• Chopin was thirty-nine years old when he died on October
17, 1849
Works
• Chopin’s works were written for a solo pianist.
They include:
• 20 nocturnes
• 25 preludes
• 17 waltzes
• 15 polonaises
• 58 mazurkas
• 27 etudes
Composition History
•
The Polonaise in G Minor
• Published in 1817 by Chopin when he was just seven years
old
• Published in Warsaw Diary
• Disappeared until 1926
• In 1959 it was presented as a gift to Fryderyk Chopin society
in Warsaw, Poland.
• Only other copy of this composition is at the Katowice
Academy of Music
Composition History
• Nocturne in B-Flat Minor, Op. 9
• Composed by Chopin at age 22
• Chopin was inspired by the original creator of the
nocturne, John Field.
• Initial success, but many considered the nocturnes the
worst pieces to play of his many works
Composition History
• Ballade no 4 in F Minor, Op. 52
• Composed during his up and down health condition in
the year 1842 and early 1843
• Charles Rosen, an American composer, had this to say
about the piece, “one of the most moving pages in all
nineteenth-century music”.
• Chopin dedicated Ballade no. 4 in F minor to one of his
favorite pupils Baroness Charlotte de Rothschild
Listening Guide
The Polonaise in G Minor:
i. (0:00) - Introduction – piano enters playing adagio tempo,
consistent rhythm, conjunct, range is narrow, consonance
ii. (0:07) - Piano begins a descending melody, changes to
moderato tempo, conjunct, range is narrow, consonance
iii. (0:13) - Piano begins an ascending melody, changes to
allegro tempo, conjunct, range is narrow, consonance
iv. (0:07 – 0:19) - The contour is an arch, duple meter,
consonance
v. (0:19 – 1:05) - Arch repeats, consonance
vi. (1:05 – 2:45) - Rhythm changes slightly, range is narrow,
contour is descending, changes to triple meter, consonance
vii. (2:45 – 3:38) - Arch repeats, consonance
Listening Guide
Nocturne in B-Flat Minor, Op. 9:
i. (0:00 – 0:21) – Piano enters playing soft melody, range is
narrow, tempo is moderato, rhythm is consistent with
conjunct smoothness, consonance
ii. (0:21 – 0:50) – Contour is an arch with an ascending melody
that changes to a descending melody, rang is still narrow,
tempo varies from grave, moderato, and vivace
iii. (0:50 – 1:18) – Triple meter
iv. (1:18 – 2:20) – Slight change in melody
v. (2:20 – 3:19) – Arch repeats
vi. (3:19 – 4:20) – Melody becomes even softer with a slightly
slower rhythm that is still consistent and conjunct, consonance
vii. (4:20 – 5:28) – Arch repeats
Listening Guide
Ballade no 4 in F-Minor, Op. 52:
i. (0:00 – 0:40) – Piano enters playing soft melody, slightly disjunct,
narrow range, tempo is lento, consonance
ii. (0:40 – 2:26) – Soft melody continues, Triple meter begins,
disjunct, narrow range, consonance
iii. (2:26 – 4:13) - Tempo increases slightly to adagio and andante,
disjunct, changes to a wide range, dissonance
iv. (4:13 – 5:18) - Melody decreases again to reach similar melody
from the beginning or introduction, tempo decreases back to lento,
consonance
v. (5:18 – 6:28) – Tempo varies from lento to vivace, arch contour,
dissonance
vi. (6:28 – 8:28) – Melody is soft, narrow range, consonance
vii. (8:28 – 11:16) – Tempo varies from lento to vivace, disjunct, wide
range, dissonance
Bibliography
Libby, Ted. “The Life and Music of Frederic Chopin.”
www.npr.org/2011/07/18/123967818/the-
life-and-music-of-frederic-chopin. 2 March 2010.
Szulc, Tad. Chopin in Paris The Life and Times of the Romantic Composer.
A Lisa Drew Book. New York: 1998