Frederic chopin

1. Frederic chopin As presented by, Devin Alvey

2. Frederic Chopin • Born on March 1, 1810 in ZelazowaWola, Poland (Near Warsaw). • Father was a Frenchman, mother was of Polish decent

3. Frederic Chopin Early Childhood • Received above average musical education • At the age of six began studying piano with WojciechZywny, who was a violin and music teacher from Czech and also introduced Frederic to the music of Bach. • Studied harmony with JozefElsner

4. Frederic Chopin 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

5. Frederic Chopin Family and Friends • Nicolas Chopin – Father • JustynaKrzyżanowska – 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 • TytusWoyciechowski – two years older than Frederic, also studied with WojciechZywny, remained a life-long friend of Frederic

6. Frederic Chopin Paris • Chopin moved to Paris in September 1831 • Romantic Era in full blossom • Frederic was introduced to important figures such as FerdinandoPaer, who helped Chopin enter a circle of revered musicians

7. Frederic Chopin 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

8. Frederic Chopin Romantic Interest • AuroreDudevant, best known as George Sand, was a famous novelist. • Combined talents with Chopin to help him produce numerous masterpieces • Became romantic lovers

9. Frederic Chopin 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

10. Frederic Chopin 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

11. Frederic Chopin Works • Chopin’s works were written for a solo pianist. They include: • 20 nocturnes • 25 preludes • 17 waltzes • 15 polonaises • 58 mazurkas • 27 etudes

12. Frederic Chopin 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

13. Frederic Chopin 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

14. Frederic Chopin 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

15. Frederic Chopin Listening Guide • The Polonaise in G Minor: • (0:00) - Introduction – piano enters playing adagio tempo, consistent rhythm, conjunct, range is narrow, consonance • (0:07) - Piano begins a descending melody, changes to moderato tempo, conjunct, range is narrow, consonance • (0:13) - Piano begins an ascending melody, changes to allegro tempo, conjunct, range is narrow, consonance • (0:07 – 0:19) - The contour is an arch, duple meter, consonance • (0:19 – 1:05) - Arch repeats, consonance • (1:05 – 2:45) - Rhythm changes slightly, range is narrow, contour is descending, changes to triple meter, consonance • (2:45 – 3:38) - Arch repeats, consonance

16. Frederic Chopin Listening Guide • Nocturne in B-Flat Minor, Op. 9: • (0:00 – 0:21) – Piano enters playing soft melody, range is narrow, tempo is moderato, rhythm is consistent with conjunct smoothness, consonance • (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 • (0:50 – 1:18) – Triple meter • (1:18 – 2:20) – Slight change in melody • (2:20 – 3:19) – Arch repeats • (3:19 – 4:20) – Melody becomes even softer with a slightly slower rhythm that is still consistent and conjunct, consonance • (4:20 – 5:28) – Arch repeats

17. Frederic Chopin Listening Guide • Ballade no 4 in F-Minor, Op. 52: • (0:00 – 0:40) – Piano enters playing soft melody, slightly disjunct, narrow range, tempo is lento, consonance • (0:40 – 2:26) – Soft melody continues, Triple meter begins, disjunct, narrow range, consonance • (2:26 – 4:13) - Tempo increases slightly to adagio and andante, disjunct, changes to a wide range, dissonance • (4:13 – 5:18) - Melody decreases again to reach similar melody from the beginning or introduction, tempo decreases back to lento, consonance • (5:18 – 6:28) – Tempo varies from lento to vivace, arch contour, dissonance • (6:28 – 8:28) – Melody is soft, narrow range, consonance • (8:28 – 11:16) – Tempo varies from lento to vivace, disjunct, wide range, dissonance

18. Frederic Chopin 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 ParisThe Life and Times of the Romantic Composer. A Lisa Drew Book.New York: 1998