
"Simplicity is the final achievement. After one has played a vast quantity of notes and more notes, it is simplicity that emerges as the crowning reward of art."
— Frédéric Chopin
Frédéric Chopin (March 1810 – October 1849) was a Polish French composer and pianist of the Romantic period. He is best known for his solo pieces and piano concerti pieces and wrote mostly piano works.
Chopin's family was quite artistic, and as a baby, it was clear that Chopin was very moved by music. By 6 years old, he was trying to reproduce music that he heard and began making up new musical tunes. His formal training in piano began when he was 7 years old.
Though he took lessons, Chopin soon learned that he had a style and approach that was unique to him. He composed his first piece of music at 7! By 8 years old, he made his first public appearance and performed at a charity concert. Three years later, at the age of 11, he performed for the Russian tsar Alexander I.
By the age of 16, Chopin had composed many pieces, and his parents enrolled him at the Warsaw Conservatory of Music.
Chopin showed interest in the folk music of the Polish countryside, and that gave a beautiful and individual coloring to his compositions. He performed in Vienna, Austria (one of the most renowned centers of music in Europe) in 1829 to great success. Upon returning home, he composed even more pieces.
Unfortunately, in 1829, political problems in Europe upended further attempt at musical study. In 1830, he left for Paris, a place where his musical genius and composing flourished.
Chopin's health began to decline, and he died in Paris in 1849, having written over 200 different musical compositions throughout the course of his life.
Comments