Daguerrotype, c. 1849
Fryderyk Franciszek Chopinnote , also known by the French version of his name, Frédéric François Chopin (his father was French-born) (1 March 1810 –- 17 October 1849) was a Polish composer from the Romantic Era of Classical Music. Born in 1810 in Poland, he wrote almost exclusively for the piano, and his works are well-known for both their lyrical content and technical demands. When Russia invaded Poland, he left his home country, never to see it again. He nevertheless kept his national spirit through his writing of some of the best-known mazurkas and polonaises. He had an affair with writer George Sand at some point, before dying unfortunately young in 1849 of tuberculosis.
Some of his more famous works include:
- the Fantaisie-Impromptu in C-sharp minor, Op. 66
- the Funeral March that serves as the slow movement of his second piano sonata (B-flat minor, Op. 35)
- the "Revolutionary Etude", the Étude in C minor, Op. 10 No. 12
- the Nocturne in E-flat major, Op. 9 No. 2
- the Waltz in D flat major, Op. 64, No. 1, popularly known as the Minute Waltz (Petit Chien)
- the Polonaise in A flat Major, Op. 53. Also known as the "Heroic Polonaise".
- the Ballade in G minor, Op. 23, No. 1
Chopin in fiction:
- The film Impromptu (1991) is a fictionalized account of his relationship with George Sand.
- A fictional (with lots of artistic liberties) depiction of him serves as the main character of Eternal Sonata (because
the Japanese love Frederic Chopin). - He is mentioned as being dead in the song "Decomposing Composers" by Michael Palin on Monty Python's Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album.
- He and seven other Classical composers appear in Classicaloid as having been reborn into the modern day Japan. Chopin in particular is now a Hikikomori who is best friends with Franz Liszt.
- The Hark! A Vagrant comic Chopin and Liszt
focuses on his friendly rivalry with Franz Liszt.Chopin: Unrelated, we are both on the cover of Enormous Ego this week.Liszt: Only this week? - Frederic: Resurrection Of Music stars an undead Chopin fighting against the greed and soullessness of the modern music industry.
