Frédéric Chopin, Biography Of The Piano Poet
Frédéric Chopin was a man with a contradictory personality and had two great virtues: he was an excellent composer and a sublime performer. It was mainly this last characteristic that led him to be considered by his contemporaries as a piano poet.
Two themes essentially captivated his sensitivity: love for his homeland and the imprint of women in his life. The first aspect marked both his work and his thoughts. An autopsy was performed after his death to remove his heart and bury it in Poland.
When it comes to women, Chopin was unlucky for most of his life. Maybe it was his way of being. He was indeed extremely modest, with very strong moral standards, and was very shy in love despite the fact that he adored social life.
He felt more the weight of grief than the happiness of reciprocal love throughout his life, even having lived a rather long romance with the writer George Sand.
Chopin undoubtedly embodies the values of Romanticism, this movement which exalts self-awareness, national values, the homeland. A movement that has spread to all the arts … From literature to music, all are imbued with the values of freedom, subjectivism and originality.
The youth of Frédéric Chopin
Frédéric Chopin was born in 1810 in the small town of Żelazowa Wola, a town in present-day Poland which then belonged to the Duchy of Greater Warsaw. There is no certainty as to the exact date of his birth. Two possible dates are in fact envisaged: February 22 or March 1.
His father, Mikolaj Chopin, of French origin, was a professor of literature. His mother, Tekla Justyna Krzyżanowska, had a connection with the nobility without, however, possessing great resources.
Frédéric was the second of four children and the only male of the siblings. The family evolved in a strong cultural environment. Literary and musical evenings were one of their main hobbies. It is not surprising then that Chopin, imbued with the artistic atmosphere, quickly became interested in music.
It is said that little Frederick could not hold back his tears during one of these evenings during a piano recital. His parents then became aware of his incredible musical sensitivity.
He began to take piano lessons from an early age. Frédéric Chopin had already written two plays at the age of 10, a Polonaise and a Marche militaire. Elsner, the director of the Warsaw Conservatory, was one of his teachers. He spoke of him as a genius. It was under his direction that Chopin began to show the great talent that inhabited him.
The expansion of his talent
Frédéric Chopin was very fond of the popular music of his country. This was the substrate from which he began to create some of his finest compositions. This is perhaps the reason why we observe a clear nationalist accent from the beginning of his work. This is not surprising, however, among the authors of Romanticism.
He gave his first public performances at the age of fifteen at two charity concerts attended by the Russian Tsar. This moment is the origin of his penchant for life at court, for social gatherings and quality conversations.
He went to Berlin at the age of 18 and at 19 gave a concert at the Imperial Theater in Vienna, a city that was then the “Mecca” of music. Chopin did not initially arouse enthusiasm among the Austrians, accustomed to composers more visceral and more energetic than Frederic Chopin.
C are journeys allowed him however rent build friendships which formed an excellent nutrient for his career. He created many of his most famous works in the years that followed.
His big dream was to travel to Paris. He accomplished it at the age of 21. Chopin then found there the lifestyle he had always dreamed of. He did not know, however, that he would never see his dear homeland again.
A particular sensitivity
We know from correspondence with some close friends that Frédéric Chopin was unhappy in love. He first fell in love with a woman to whom he was unable to confess his feelings. He then formed a romantic relationship with another.
The latter’s family arranged for them to go their separate ways, as Chopin had contracted tuberculosis. Oddly enough, this woman married another man by whom she had a son, but both died of tuberculosis.
Chopin’s great love was the writer George Sand, whose real name was Aurora Dupin. She was older than him, divorced and had two children. She led a somewhat licentious life and, despite her moralistic scruples, Frédéric Chopin fell madly in love with her.
The relationship lasted ten years: it was very stormy but was also a source of inspiration for the musician.
Chopin fell into a deep depression was near its separation with George Sand. His health, which had always been very fragile, began to deteriorate rapidly. He died when he was only 39, on October 17, 1849.
Frédéric Chopin is considered the greatest representative of musical romanticism. An author whose musical heritage touches the soul, embraces culture and nationalism and caresses feelings.
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