Fryderyk Franciszek

Chopin

Nocturne Opus 9 Number 2 in Eb Major

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Chopin was born onFebruary 22, 1810.

He died in Paris on October 17, 1849.

Fryderyk Chopin was born fifty kilometers west of Warsaw, at Żelazowa Wola in Sochaczew County, in what was then part of the Duchy of Warsaw.

His father, Mikołaj (in French, Nicolas) Chopin, originally a Frenchman from Lorraine, had emigrated to Poland in 1787 at age sixteen and had served

in Poland's National Guard during the Kościuszko Uprising. He subsequently tutored children of the aristocracy, including the Skarbeks,

one of whose poorer relations, Justyna Krzyżanowska, he married.Justyna's brother would become the father of American Union

General Włodzimierz Krzyżanowski.Justyna and Mikołaj were married in the 16th-century Basilica in Brochów.

There, too, their second child and only son, born 1 March 1810, would be baptized "Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin".

In 1892 a parish church document was found that cites his birthdate as 22 February 1810, but he usually gave 1 March as the date.

Here Chopin lived the first few months of his life; his family moved to Warsaw where his father worked as a college professor.

In Warsaw Fryderyk Chopin was considered

a "second Mozart." By the age of 7 he had

composed two polonaises.

The child prodigy was featured in the Warsaw

newspapers.

The "little Chopin" became the attraction at receptions

given in the aristocratic salons of Warsaw.

Chopin gave his first piano recital at the age of 8.

The Warsaw Concert Hall, where Chopin gave his first

concerts.

Maria Wodzińska was Chopin’s student; she painted this portrait

and gave it to him. They became engaged, but her family convinced her to break the engament,

due to Chopin’s poor health. Chopin was devasted and always kept

her letters with a handwritten note of his saying “My Sorrow.”

Chopin preferred more intimate settings for a recital, like the home of Count and Countess Radziwil, as he didn’t like large concert halls.

While visiting Vienna, he heard about an uprising in Warsaw and decided not to return to Poland. He stayed in Vienna

for a few more months before visiting Munich and Stuttgart, Germany, where he learned

of Poland's occupation by the Russian army.

1830

Chopin moved to Paris in 1830;

he was 20 years old and had already composed many works

for the piano, including his two concertos and some of his Études Opus 10.

Paris - Church of Notredame Guardian of the Night

In Paris, Chopin formed personal friendships with the artists Franz Liszt, Hector Berlioz, Felix Mendelssohn, and Vincenzo Bellini.

Robert Schumann wrote: "Hats off, gentlemen! A genius!"

Notredame Cathedral

Chopin formed a strong friendship with Camille Pleyel,

owner of the Pleyel piano

manufacture. From that time on, Chopin’s pianos where

manufactured by Pleyel. Often Chopin would

go to the piano factory, to explain how he wanted his

new piano.

Ballade No. 1 - Chopin’s handwritten partiture.

In 1838, his friend Eugène Delacroix painted this portrait. Chopin was

already very ill with tuberculosis.

He had to give private classes and perform in

public, to support himself, having little time for what

he really wanted to do, ... compose for the piano.

In 1836, at a party hosted by Countess Marie d'Agoult,

fiancée of composer and close friend Franz Liszt, Chopin met

Amandine - Aurore Dupin, Baroness Dudevant, better known by her pseudonym George Sand,

a writer.

Franz Liszt

Baroness Dudevant fell in love with him and wanted to take care of Chopin, so that his health would improve,

so that he would dedicate more time to composing . Finally, he said “Yes.”

They spent long summers in her country state “Nohant.” Very often, she invited several of his friends to spend weekends

with them. Frequent visitors were Franz Liszt

and Eugène Delacroix.

Chopin spent long periods of time in Nohant, from 1838 to 1847, where his health improved markedly.

Prelude No.15 Opus 28 Db Major

In 1845 problems emerged in Chopin's relationship with Aurore at the same

time of a further deterioration in his health.

These problems finally brought an end

to their relationship in 1847.

Aurore by Eugène Delacroix

In his new apartment in Paris, Chopin composed on his last Pleyel.

Place Vendôme, place of Chopin’s last residence.

In 1847 Chopin gave concerts in England and Scotland

with Jane Stirling, although he was severely ill.

He returned to Paris in 1848, but was unable

to teach or perform.

His sister Ludwika came from Poland to take care him.

He died at his home in Paris,on October 17, 1849.

Chopin requested that Mozart's Requiem be sung at his funeral, at the Church of the Madeleine and attended by nearly 3,000 people;

this church didn’t allow female singers in its choir,and the funeral was delayed for almost 2 weeks,

until the church finally granted Chopin's final wish. The female singers remained behind a black velvet curtain.

Chopin is buried in the Père Lachaise cemetery

in Paris; at his own request, his heart was

removed and sent, in an urn, to Warsaw, where it is sealed

in a pillar in the Church of the Holy Cross. His grave attracts many visitors

and is always decorated with flowers, even during winter.

This is the pillar in the Church of the Holy Cross in Warsaw where the urn with

Chopin’s heart is sealed.

The exact spot is the small niche

at the bottom, where the little flower bouquet

is placed.

The Church of the Holy Cross in 1945, after Warsaw was bombed by the Nazis.

The pillar where Chopin’s heart rests remained intact.

The Church of the Holy Cross after reconstruction.

A musical form Nocturne, given great prominence

by Chopin.