The Polish composer, pianist and teacher, was the founder of an entirely new, hitherto not known before, piano style. Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin has advanced to become one of the most well-known virtuosos of his time. He was much influenced by his work, consisting of piano concertos, ballades, preludes, nocturnes, waltzes, improvisations and songs for the piano the music of the French salons. His musical talent showed itself early, he was a child prodigy, composing at the age of seven years. His compositions were strongly linked to its origin and the rhythmic and melodic characteristics of Polish folk music. Chopin’s small life was marred by illness and disappointment …
Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin was born on 1 March 1810 in Zelazowa-Wola, near Warsaw, the son of a Frenchman and a Pole born. What is certain is not the date. Other sources refer to the 4th March and 22 February 1810.
Chopin had three sisters: Ludwika, Izabela and Emilia. He learned to play the piano at 4 years ancient already. Chopin received his first piano lessons at age seven. He was taught from 1816 1822 by Wojciech Adalbert Zywny. When he was seven years ancient in 1817, appeared with fantastic success his first piano composition. Here Chopin’s compositions were strongly linked to its origin and the rhythmic and melodic characteristics of Polish folk music. His first concert he was 8 years ancient. From 1822 Chopin took private lessons in music theory and composition with Józef Elsner. In 1823 he played publicly a concerto by Ferdinand Ries.
But, he graduated from high school until 1826. Then he studied at the Conservatory of counterpoint, music theory, figured bass and composition. He also attended other lectures at the university. Chopin in July 1829 finished his studies. That same year he traveled as a virtuoso pianist in his first concert tour to Vienna, where he lived for two years. As a failed 1831 Polish revolution, he never returned to Poland. He matured in Paris. In Paris he found his friendship with Franz Liszt and Hector Berlioz Louis, and the writers Honoré de Balzac and Heinrich Heine.
By Franz Liszt in 1837 he met the French writer George Sand know, with whom he lived for 10 years. Well-funded Chopin concertos with his livelihood. As a piano teacher of Parisian society, he was making a regular income from 1833. Soon, he used an expensive lifestyle. Chopin made in Leipzig in 1835, by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, his acquaintance with Clara Wieck and Robert Schumann as well as 1836 with Adolph von Henselt in Carlsbad. In 1838 he and sand were a couple. As Chopin’s deteriorating health shape up, he accompanied George Sand and her children Maurice and Solange to Mallorca.
But, both therapies and other treatments have failed to improve. In Mallorca, the 24 Preludes were completed, which contain the well-known “Regentropfenprélude”. When Chopin suffered a severe attack of tuberculosis, brought him back to France in sand. George Sand, Chopin invited in the summer in her house in the country where he could devote himself wholeheartedly to composing. The rest of the year he spent in Paris, where he earned his living on as a piano teacher and pianist. In July 1847 the couple separated. Chopin tried to Jane Stirling, a former pupil to enter into a new connection. In April 1848 he undertook a tour of England.
With his return to Paris, he as a result of progressive pulmonary tuberculosis and the try was already fatally ill.
Frédéric Chopin died on 17 October 1849 at the age of 39 years in Paris.
