Frédéric Chopin Musical Style and Contributions

Question 1

Which instrument did Chopin almost exclusively write for?

Answer 1

piano (or piano with voice or instruments)

Question 2

What were Chopin’s <b>melodic lines</b> like?

Answer 2

they have vocal qualities

remniscent of the <i>bel canto</i> style in opera:
long filigree passages,
extended embellishments,
and ornamental passages

Question 3

What were Chopin’s harmonic languages like?

Answer 3

chromaticism,
unexpected modulations,
unusual juxtapositions,
modal inflections

Question 4

What were Chopin’s innovative pianist figurations?

Answer 4

unusual spacing of chords,
sweeping arpeggiations,
expanded range

Question 5

What did Chopin do in response to technological advancement of the piano?

Answer 5

exploited new capabilities of the piano and employed greater virtuosity

Question 6

Where do <b>improvisatory qualities</b> show in Chopin’s works?

Answer 6

Preludes and Impromptus

Question 7

How did Chopin express nationalism?

Answer 7

in Polonaise,
Mazurka,
Krakowiak

Question 8

How did Bach influence Chopin?

Answer 8

Bach’s counterpoint

Question 9

How did Mozart influence Chopin?

Answer 9

Mozart’s lyricism

Question 10

Who was the source of Chopin’s <i>bel canto</i> style?

Answer 10

<b>Bellini</b> and <b>Donizetti</b>