Biography and Chief Works of 

Frederic Chopin

1810.

Born near Warsaw, Poland. Father a Frenchman who went to Poland in 1787, and who became a teacher.  Mother a well-educated PoIe.  Chopin one of four children.  Received a good education.  Soon playing the piano and composing for it, and performing in homes of aristocracy.

1818.

Played a piano concerto at a public concert.

1825.

Published his op. 1, a rondo.  

Interested in Polish folk music, and began to write mazurkas.

1826.

Started a three-year course at Warsaw Conservatoire.  

Wrote more piano pieces.

1829.

Successful concert tour to Vienna.  

Becoming known in Poland as a national composer.  

Wrote some Polish Pieces, his 2 piano concertos, and some of his studies.

1830.

Moved to Vienna with the intention of settling there; but not well received, and only stayed for a year.  

Heard of capture of Warsaw by Russians, and, in despair, wrote his 'Revolutionary' study.

1831.

Moved to Paris, which became his home for the rest of his life.  His playing won favorable comment, and his charm made friends at once.  Met Berlioz, Liszt, and other famous musicians.  

A popular piano teacher - preferred teaching to performing in public, but enjoyed playing in the salons of the aristocracy; and soon achieved fame as a composer.  Consorted with Polish refugees, and with famous authors who headed the Romantic Movement.

1834.

Traveled through Germany, where he met his parents for the last time.  Visited Leipzig, where he met Schumann and Mendelssohn.  Became engaged to a Polish girl, but later broke it off, owing to the precarious state of his health.

1837.

A visit to England, where he played at the home of Broadwood, the piano manufacturer, but gave no public concerts.  On his return to Paris became very friendly with the novelist calling herself George Sand.

1838.

George Sand took him to Majorca for his health, together with her two children.  But bad weather and primitive conditions brought on tuberculosis.  Continued to compose, however.  

The 24 preludes op. 28 date from this time.

1839.

Continued to live with George Sand, in Paris in the winter, in her country house in the summer.  She looked after him well, but his health was precarious.  

Continued to teach, to compose, and to play for the aristocracy.

1847.

Separated from George Sand - her children made difficulties and came between them.  

Health became worse.

1848.

Revolution in Paris.  Fled to England.  Played in fashionable society, and gave three concerts in London.  Concerts also in Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh, but desperately ill.

1849.

Died in Paris.

Sensitive, cultured, retiring personality. Strong sense of Polish nationality.  

Founded a new style of piano playing and composing-the poet of the piano.  A cantabile style of melody, with delicate or brilliant accompanying ornamentation, creating an atmosphere of its own.  His own playing was refined, delicate or fiery, as occasion demanded.  Made effective use of the pedal and discreet use of rubato.  Wrote a few, not very satisfactory works for piano and orchestra, a few songs, and some miscellaneous compositions.  

But everything of value is for piano solo.  Better at small-scale or fantasia-like works than in larger, formal designs.  Wrote Polish dances-mazurkas and Polonaises.

Works for piano.  Dances: mazurkas; polonaises; waltzes.

Short pieces: 

preludes; studies; nocturnes (the idea and tide taken from the Irish composer Field); impromptus, etc.

Larger works: 

4 scherzos; 4 ballades; 3 sonatas, etc.

2 piano concertos, and a few other works for piano and orchestra.

Small quantity of chamber music, and a few Polish songs.