HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Frédéric Chopin

Source: Quien

Born on 1 March 1810 in Żelazowa Wola, Duchy of Warsaw, Frédéric Chopin existed in the stratosphere. Everybody knew it as they have ever since. A critic might complain as to this or that about Beethoven, but Chopin's melodies and virtuosic talent were simply inviolable. Chopin is the first Polish composer to enter into these histories of classical music, though his father was French. Antonio Cartellieri (1772-1807) had been born in Poland, but his parents were Italian and Latvian. As a Pole, had Chopin been born a century earlier under Frederick II of Prussia, also a composer, he might well have lived a more obscure life, Fred owning no love for Poles. Nor was Chopin the king or warrior that had been Frederick. Born a couple generations after Beethoven, Chopin is what happened upon order restored to France after the French Revolution (1789-99) and Napoleon's permanent fall in 1815.

Chopin is catalogued by both Op and "B" (or "BI") numbering schemes, the latter per Maurice Brown in 'Chopin: An Index of His Works in Chronological Order' (1960/72) listing 168 works. Chopin himself ascribed opus numbers up to 65, others to 74 added shortly after his death by Julian Fontana per request of Chopin's family. Also employed is the annotating "KK" directory of 1979 by Krystyna Kobylańska [Wikipedia] and the "C" directory of Józef Michał Chomiński and Teresa Dalila Turło in the 'Katalog Dzieł Fryderyka Chopina' of 1990. Not used so much are the "WN" numbers of the 'National Edition of the Works of Fryderyk Chopin' begun in 1959 by Jan Ekier also called the 'Chopin National Edition' or the 'Polish National Edition'. This directory of scores has been published beginning with ballades from 1967 to 2010.

The dances that Chopin wrote include mazurkas (lively Polish dances in triple time). Though irrelevant to Chopin, the Polish national anthem is also a mazurka. Chopin also authored seventeen polonaises (slow Polish dances in triple time), waltzes (swirling dances in triple time) and other styles. Among Chopin's piano pieces were numerous etudes (for practice), improvisational impromptus, nocturnes (short compositions generally thematic of night) and 24 improvisational preludes. Other works for piano include rondos and three sonatas. The sonata had arrived in the latter 17th century during the baroque period thanks largely to Arcangelo Corelli. Also written for piano were Chopin's variations, four ballades, four scherzos (originating in Italy), songs and works for chamber or other forms. Orchestral works include numerous concertantes (French version of the Italian or German concerto).

As Chopin's father was a tutor to Polish aristocrats, he studied under pianist, Wojciech Żywny, from 1816 to 1823, giving his first concert at age seven. Among his earliest known compositions were a couple polonaises as of 1817 at age seven. The first was 'Polonaise in G minor' B 1 [IMSLP] likely followed by 'Polonaise in B-flat major' B 3 [IMSLP]. Also grouped with those is the earliest surviving manuscript by Chopin that is 'Polonaise in A flat major' B 5 in 1821 [IMSLP].

From 1823 to 1826 Chopin was a pupil at the Warsaw Lyceum, concentrating on organ. He studied theory, figured bass and composition at the Warsaw Conservatory from 1826 to 1829. His performance for Tsar Alexander I who visited Warsaw in 1825 earned him a diamond ring. Chopin's first published composition arrived in 1825, 'Rondo' Op 1. That was dedicated to Madame de Linde, wife of Samuel Bogumil von Linde, rector of the Lyceum at which Chopin was a student.

'Rondo' C minor Op 1 Frédéric Chopin

Composed and published in Warsaw 1825

Piano: Boris Bloch

C. Bechstein Centrum in Berlin 18 Dec 2017

Fryderyc Chopin Institute IMSLP Wikipedia

Chopin's initial of 21 nocturnes was composed in 1826, his last in 1848. Of the nineteen performed by Arthur Rubinstein below, the first was No.19 not published until 1870. The latest were Nos.17 and 18 written in 1846 to be published that year.

'Nocturnes' 19 of 21 Frédéric Chopin

1826 (No.19)-1846 (Nos.17 & 18)

Piano: Arthur Rubinstein

Rome 1965 / 1967

Wikipedia

Chopin had completed his first two waltzes in 1824 which, however, are lost. His earliest extent waltzes arrived in 1827 to be catalogued as Nos.16 and 17 not published until 1902. Of the nineteen performed by Zoltán Kocsis below, No.19 may have been authored as late as 1849.

'Waltzes' 19 of 19 Frédéric Chopin

1827 (Nos.16 & 17)-1847-49 (No.19 [1843 ?])

Piano: Zoltán Kocsis

Wikipedia

Chopin first visited Berlin in 1828, after which he made his debut performance upon graduating from the conservatory in July of 1829: 'Variations on 'Là ci darem la mano'' Op 2 which he had composed in 1827 for piano and orchestra derived from the first act of Mozart's 'Don Giovanni'.

'Variations on 'Là ci darem la mano'' Op 2 Frédéric Chopin

1827 from Act 1 of Mozart's 'Don Giovanni' of 1787

Premiere 11 Aug 1829 at the Kärntnertortheater in Vienna

Piano: Shura Cherkassky

Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra at Avery Fisher Hall in NYC 1994

Fryderyc Chopin Institute IMSLP Wikipedia

'Variations on 'Là ci darem la mano'' Op 2 Frédéric Chopin

1827 from Act 1 of Mozart's 'Don Giovanni' of 1787

Piano: Alice Burla Auditorio Sony in Madrid 2016

Fryderyc Chopin Institute IMSLP Wikipedia

Chopin completed and performed his 'Concerto No.2' before his 'Concerto No.1'. He finished the former in autumn of 1829 to premiere on 17 March 1830 in Warsaw toward Op 21. He completed No.1 in 1830 to premiere on 11 October 1830 in Warsaw toward Op 11. His 'Etudes' Op 10 had arrived between them both in November of 1829.

'Piano Concerto No.2' F minor Op 21 Frédéric Chopin

Premiere 17 March 1830 in Warsaw

Piano: Arthur Rubinstein

London Symphony Orchestra / André Previn 1975

Fryderyc Chopin Institute Houston Symphony IMSLP

Interlude LA Phil Wikipedia

'Études' Op 10 Frédéric Chopin

Premiere 25 Aug 1832 in Paris

Piano: Maurizio Pollini

Fryderyc Chopin Institute Alfred Cortot Josh Davidoff IMSLP Wikipedia

'Piano Concerto No.1' E minor Op 11 Frédéric Chopin

Premiere 11 Oct 1830 in Warsaw

Piano: Olga Scheps

Polish Radio Chamber Orchestra / Agnieszka Duczmal 22 Jan 2014

Fryderyc Chopin Institute IMSLP RISCA Wikipedia

Much as Chopin was endeared to Poland, he left for Paris in 1831 and never returned. Warsaw was in no way comparable to Paris as Europe's major musical hub. Quickly becoming a part of the salon circuit in Paris, his debut concert there could only be a huge success. Concerts, however, were the wrong venue for Chopin's delicate piano pieces. Thus to find a patron in the Rothschild family to play salons was propitious. The Rothschild's had first became notable as patrons to European music with Ignaz Moscheles during the twenties in England. Chopin dreaded all the trappings of giving concerts and would later get away with only one a year if possible. Salons were far more to his taste, preferably at his own apartment.

In December of 1831 Chopin met Franz Liszt with whom he hung and worked for the next decade. In 1832 he published 'Nocturnes' Op 9 dedicated to Camille Pleyel. That consisted of a set of three of which were 'No.1 in B-flat minor', 'No.2 in E-flat major and 'No.3 in B major'.

'Nocturne' E-flat major Op 9 No.2 Frédéric Chopin 1832

Piano: Valentina Lisitsa 2011

Fryderyc Chopin Institute IMSLP Piano TV Wikipedia

Chopin composed his four scherzi from 1833 to 1842 which were No.1 Op 20 [IMSLP], No.2 Op 31 [IMSLP], No.3 Op 39 [IMSLP] and No.4 Op 54 [IMSLP].

'Scherzi Nos.1-4' Frédéric Chopin 1833-42

Piano: Arthur Rubinstein

Manhattan Center in NYC 25 March 1959

Adam Mickiewicz Institute Wikimedia Commons Wikipedia

Chopin's 'Fantaisie-Impromptu' in C-sharp minor was composed for Madame la Baronne d'Este in 1834. The first of his four ballades arrived in 1835 toward his last in 1842. Those were No.1 Op 23 [IMSLP], No.2 Op 38 [IMSLP], No.3 Op 47 [IMSLP] and No.4 Op 52 [IMSLP].

'Fantaisie-Impromptu' C-sharp minor Op 66 WN 46 Frédéric Chopin 1834

Piano: Anastasia Huppmann Vienna

Fryderyc Chopin Institute IMSLP Wikipedia

'Ballades Nos.1-4' Frédéric Chopin 1833-42

Piano: Tzvi Erez 2013

Manhattan Center in NYC 25 March 1959

No.1 Op 23 No.2 Op 38 No.3 Op 47 No.4 Op 52

It was 1836 that Chopin's famous affair with writer, George Sand, began. Meeting at the home of Liszt, neither were initially attracted to the other. In 1837 Chopin journeyed to London to play at a soiree. Upon returning to Paris he found himself in the company of Sand with whom he left for Majorca (island some hundred miles east of Spain) in 1838, he and Sand's fifteen year-old daughter to convalesce, Sand herself to escape a lover. During that period Chopin finished his 'Sonata No.2' in B-flat minor Op 35 begun in 1837 and finished in 1839 toward publishing in 1840. Chopin was also living with Sand and her daughter when he finished and published a set of 24 preludes per 'Preludes' Op 28 [IMSLP] in 1839 which he had commenced in 1836, one of which was No.4 in E minor. Chopin requested that this prelude be performed at his funeral along with Mozart's 'Requiem'. The author at Wikipedia has Chopin writing his initial prelude in 1835 though most were completed during his years with Sand.

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George Sand 1864

Photo by Félix Tournachon aka Nadar

Source: Wikipedia

'Piano Sonata No.2' B-flat minor Op 35 Frédéric Chopin 1837/39

Piano: Kyohei Sorita

XVIII International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw Oct 2021

Fryderyc Chopin Institute IMSLP Mieczysław Tomaszewski Wikipedia

'Prelude' E minor Op 28 No.4 Frédéric Chopin 1838

Piano: Khatia Buniatishvili Paris Nov 2014

Fryderyc Chopin Institute Wikipedia

Chopin was living with Sand when he composed the two nocturnes in Op 37 toward publishing in 1840, one of which was No.2 in G major. He was also with Sand when he wrote his 'Military Polonaise' in A major Op 40 No.1. Chopin's polonaises range from No.11 in 1817 to No.7 in 1846.

'Nocturne' G major Op 37 No.2 Frédéric Chopin 1839

Piano: Szymon Nehring Fryderyk Chopin Institute in Warsaw

Fryderyc Chopin Institute IMSLP sin80 Wikipedia

'Military Polonaise' A major Op 40 No.1 Frédéric Chopin

Completed Oct 1838 Published 1841

Piano: Anastasia Huppmann Steyr, Austria

Fryderyc Chopin Institute IMSLP Wikipedia

Chopin's nocturnes per Op 48 No.1 and No.2 visited sometime 1841 toward publishing in 1842. 'Fantasy in F minor' Op 49 was written sometime March or later of 1841 to be published that year.

'Nocturne' C minor Op 48 No.1 Frédéric Chopin 1841

Piano: Leonora Armellini

XVIII International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw Oct 2021

Fryderyc Chopin Institute IMSLP Wikipedia

'Fantasie' F minor Op 49 Frédéric Chopin 1841

Piano: Krystian Zimerman

Fryderyc Chopin Institute Orrin Howard IMSLP Mieczysław Tomaszewski Wikipedia

Chopin's 'Mazurka' Op 50 was finished in 1842 to see print that year. That consisted of 'No.1 in G major', 'No.2 in A-flat major' and 'No.3 in C-sharp minor'. His 'Heroic Polonaise' in A flat major Op 53 followed the same year toward publishing in 1843 in dedication to the Protestant banker, Auguste Léo.

'Mazurka' C-sharp minor Op 50 No.3 Frédéric Chopin 1842

Piano: Martin Garcia Garcia

XVIII International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw Oct 2021

Fryderyc Chopin Institute IMSLP Mieczysław Tomaszewski Wikipedia

'Heroic Polonaise' A-flat major Op 53 Frédéric Chopin 1842

Piano: Valentina Lisitsa

Fryderyc Chopin Institute IMSLP Wikipedia

Chopin's frail health had begun to rapidly deteriorate in 1842, he hardly able to move and in constant pain. His 'Berceuse' Op 57 visited in 1844 in dedication to Mademoiselle Élise Gavard. The berceuse is a type of lullaby. Chopin also addressed the barcarolle of Venetian traditional folk origin sung by gondoliers, that in 1846 for publishing that year as 'Barcarolle in F-sharp minor' Op 60.

'Berceuse' D-flat major Op 57 Frédéric Chopin 1844

Piano: Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli

Fryderyc Chopin Institute IMSLP

'Barcarolle' F-sharp minor Op 60 Frédéric Chopin 1846

Piano: Aimi Kobayashi

XVII International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw April 2015

Fryderyc Chopin Institute IMSLP Wikipedia

As Chopin progressively became more a patient than a lover, his relationship with Sand was eventually severed in 1847. He gave his last concert in Paris before leaving for London during the year of the Revolutions of 1848. He there played at Stafford House (now Lancaster House) for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. One item of interest is the prices that Chopin charged. As a conspicuous master too high for any to fault, he likewise requested high-end fees. He figured an hour's worth of piano lessons worth a guinea. That's only £1.05 or $1.61 in today's money. But it bought at minimum a hundred dollars more at his time. Chopin asked 20 guineas for a recital, at least $2000 of purchasing power today.

Chopin traveled to Scotland in the summer of 1848, before returning to London to give his final concert at Guildhall in November that year. By this time his weight had dropped to under 99 pounds. If he wasn't sick before, he was now. He nevertheless returned to Paris that November where he worked at his final mazurkas in 1849 per B 167 and 168.

'Mazurka' F minor Op 68 No.4 B 168 Frédéric Chopin

Last composition left unfinished 1849

Piano: Alexej Gorlatch

The Konzerthaus in Berlin 31 March 2017

Fryderyc Chopin Institute IMSLP Mieczysław Tomaszewski Wikipedia

Chopin died in Paris on 17 October of 1949. Like other composers for whom it could seem a fashion to die young, the cause of Chopin's death is unknown, though tuberculosis is the strongest contender. His funeral attracted some three thousand people from about Europe who were excluded from attending for not having been invited.

Sources & References for Frédéric Chopin:

Classical Net James Manheim (All Music)

VF History (notes) Wikipedia English

Analyses of Chopin:

Adam Mickiewicz Institute (preludes)

Massimo Blasone (etudes / Op 10 / Op 25)

Angela Lear (etudes / Op 10 / Op 25)

Regina Smendzianka (polonaises)

Fred Yu (etudes / Op 10)

Fred Yu (etudes / Op 25)

Audio of Chopin: Corpora:

Art of Piano (русском) BBC