Chopin Frederic Biography

Frederic Chopin was a Polish composer that was around during the Romantic Period of classical music. He is commonly acknowledged as one of the greatest Polish composers, and his compositions have been recognized as one of music’s greatest tone poets.
Growing up, Chopin was regarded as a child-prodigy because of his impressive piano playing. He had become very familiar with music in various forms at an early age. His French father played the violin and the flute, his mother played the piano, and his older sister Ludwika gave him some of his first piano lessons. By the age of 6, Chopin was already trying to create his own melodies on the piano. Only a couple of years later, he composed two Polonaises: one in G minor, and one in B flat major. In 1821, at only 11 years old, his next Polonaise A-flat major showcased his development of harmonic and melodic invention. He was compared to Mozart, as well as his contemporary Beethoven. At the age of 20, he moved to Paris and proceeded to write compositions, and made a living by giving piano lessons. He made very few appearances because of his health; less than 30 in his whole lifetime.
In 1836, Chopin met a French writer named George Sand. As Chopin’s illness developed, Sand became more of a nurse than his lover. She soon began to worry about her own health as well as her 2 children, so she kept some distance from Chopin. Their relationship was very rocky, and after 10 years they could not be reconciled. Then in 1849, at only 39 years old, Chopin died in Paris due to pulmonary tuberculosis.
Chopin’s composed music was very patriotic, and was intended to reflect his nationality. They were written for the piano as the primary (or even solo) instrument. Chopin was also responsible for major piano innovations such as piano waltz, etudes, preludes, sonatas, and many more. Some of his most popular works are his Waltz 1 and 2, Etudes, 2 Sonatas, 2 Concertos, and his Prelude “Raindrop.”