Page 167 - (DK) The Classical Music Book - Big Ideas Simply Explained

ROMANTIC 1810–1920 165

See also: Pièces de clavecin 82–83 ■ Die schöne Müllerin 150–155 ■
Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune 228–231 ■ Ravel’s Piano Concerto in D for
the left hand 266–267

rain at Valldemossa, on the island
Preludes, nocturnes, of Majorca, where she and Chopin,
and études who was then her lover, spent the
winter of 1838–1839 together.

Short introductory Polish dance
Preludes movement often Chopin’s interest in dance was
preceding a partly a conscious homage to his
larger piece.
Polish heritage. The polonaise
(meaning “Polish” in French)
Expressive and was used by many composers Frédéric Chopin
Nocturnes tranquil compositions across Europe, and Chopin wrote
inspired by the night, more than a dozen examples,
following no set form. Born near Warsaw in 1810,
his first when he was just seven Chopin studied the piano
years old. Like the polonaise, in the Polish capital and
the mazurka was a traditional performed at musical soirées
Pieces designed for
Études practice, to perfect dance form to which Chopin in its greatest houses. He
musical skills. returned regularly on no fewer visited Paris at the age of 20
than 50 occasions. and settled there, making a
Chopin mainly used the waltz living by teaching, publishing
the instrument itself, Chopin had a dance form for lighter salon music. his music, and appearing at
profound effect on piano technique The so-called “Minute Waltz” salons. Chopin disliked
and helped push the instrument and the Waltz in E-flat, Op. 18 concerts, and performed in
to the forefront of 19th-century (Grande valse brillante) are rapid few, yet his influence was
huge, founded on works that
music. Preferring to compose in pieces. In contrast to the showy embraced the folk music of his
miniature rather than on a large waltzes, Chopin’s 20 nocturnes native land, as well as other,
scale, he produced three four- are predominantly intimate and more conceptual forms that
movement piano sonatas and many introverted in mood, slow and lifted piano technique to new
short “character” pieces, especially dreamy, as their title suggests. levels. Initially composing in
preludes, nocturnes, études, and The nocturnes enjoy an enduring a style that favored virtuosity
dances, such as the mazurka, legacy as some of the most popular in the tradition of composers
polonaise, and waltz. solo works ever written for piano. Johann Nepomuk Hummel,
The term “nocturne” and its style Friedrich Kalkbrenner, and
Mood and style were the invention of the Irish Carl Maria von Weber, he later
Between 1835 and 1839, Chopin composer and celebrated pianist absorbed within his piano
composed a set of 24 preludes— John Field, whose work Chopin textures the influence of Bach.
one in each of the major and minor knew and admired. His most durable personal
keys—using J.S. Bach’s Preludes Like Field, Chopin was a relationship, with the novelist
George Sand, ended in 1847.
from the Well-Tempered Clavier virtuoso pianist, and his interest He died of tuberculosis two
(1722) as his model. For Chopin, the in the extension of piano technique years later in Paris.
prelude was essentially an abstract is demonstrated in his 27 études
form, although some of his pieces (“studies”), which he began writing
were prescribed titles by his in his teens. In these pieces, Chopin Other key works
publishers that suggested specific managed to combine technical 1830 Piano Concerto No. 1
influences. The “Raindrop” Prelude, advances with great expressive 1835 Ballade No. 1 in G minor
for example, earned its (inauthentic) and musical quality. They have 1844 Sonata No. 3 in B minor
nickname from the French novelist remained both a challenge and 1846 Barcarolle in F-sharp
George Sand’s account of incessant a joy to pianists ever since. ■

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