Chopin Background Flashcards
What is his full name?
Frédéric François Chopin.
When was he alive?
1810-1849.
What made him unique compared to other romantic composers?
He wrote almost exclusively for the piano but is still recognized as one of the great composers of the Romantic Period.
How many orchestral parts did he write?
2 for his piano concertos.
Where was he born and what feelings did he have towards his homeland?
He was born in Poland and had strong patriotic feelings towards it.
Where did he live for most of his life?
France.
What strengthened his loyalty towards Poland?
The Russian Oppression.
What happened when he heard about the Polish revolution and Russian capture of Warsaw?
He wrote his revolutionary ‘Etude’, a powerful and passionate work with a dramatic left-hand part.
What was he given when he left Poland?
He was given a small casket of Polish soil which he kept all his life and it was even sprinkled on his grave when he died.
How is he similar to Grieg?
He was considered a nationalistic composer and the traditional melodies and rhythms influenced his writing.
When did he start piano lessons?
At a very young age, he started performing publically at the age of 7.
What did people think of his piano playing?
He was considered a prodigy and received invitations to perform for royalty and aristocrats.
What did his father do when he was young?
He took him into Polish villages, where he heard traditional mazurkas, polonaises, and krakoviaks.
How and when did he die?
He had severe bronchitis developed into tuberculosis, leading to his early death at 39.
How many piano concertos did he write?
2
How many piano sonatas did he write?
3
How many scherzos did he write?
4
How many rondos did he write?
3
How many ballades did he write?
4
How many polonaises did he write?
11
How many mazurkas did he write?
58
How many waltzes did he write?
14
How many etudes did he write?
24
How many preludes did he write?
25
How many nocturnes did he write?
19
Did he ever intend his music to be used for dances?
No, he just wanted to reflect characteristics from dances.
Describe his personal composition style.
Distinctive and recognizable with lyrical melodies, harsh harmonies (contemporaries considered this due to dissonances). He used many chromatic notes, especially in runs and fast-moving passages to add colour and interest. His strength lies in his complete originality.
