The Piano Music of Frederic Chopin
Often described as the "poet of the piano," Chopin's musical style is so exceptionally individualistic, distinct and personal that some elements are instantly recognizable as belonging to him. His melodies are lyrical and vocal-like. His harmonies are complex, chromatic, and considered way ahead of their time.
Chopin invented a keyboard style that fits ideally into nineteenth-century Romanticism. His music is subjective and tinged with melancholy; it suggests a never-ending search for the unattainable.
THE NOCTURNES
Of all of Chopin's works, the Nocturnes are the most introspective, the most genuinely subjective. The title Nocturne originated with Irish composer John Field. However, Chopin refined its contours and enriched its harmonic texture. In it he released his innermost thoughts, disclosing his sadness and nostalgia. His Nocturnes are like musical readings of 19th Century French poetry. Melancholy pervades most of them.
THE PRELUDES
The 24 Preludes were published in 1839. They are very much like Bach's Preludes in terms of attitude and basic concept. Like Bach, Chopin wrote 24 preludes, one in each major and minor key. The Preludes are fragmentary and may seem like sketches, but they faithfully reflect the soul of the Romantic musician: brief portrayals, some melancholy and even desperate.
THE MAZURKAS
Chopin's Mazurkas (there are more than 50 of them) clearly show Chopin as an harmonic innovator. Originally a Polish dance, the mazurka has a basic rhythm in triple meter with the principal accent on the second or third beat rather than on the first. Chopin elevated this folk dance to an art form yet saved the mazurka's native charm and uniqueness.
THE ETUDES
Chopin's Etudes contain the essence of Chopin's distinctive traits: harmonic fluidity, melodic voluptuousness and an inner vitality that characterize his entire piano repertoire. The 12 Etudes Opus 10 were composed between Chopin's 19th and 24th years - a remarkable feat.