Frédéric Chopin: poems for the piano
Frédéric Chopin wrote almost all of his music for one instrument, the piano. His pieces can sound like quiet poems, night songs or proud dances, and many pianists love to play them.
In this lesson
From Poland to Paris
Chopin was born in 1810 near Warsaw, in Poland. He played the piano very well as a child and gave his first public concert when he was about eight years old. As a young man, he left Poland in 1830, and a few years later he settled in Paris, where he lived for most of the rest of his life.
Chopin was often unwell, and he died in Paris in 1849, at the age of 39.
Music that sings
Chopin's melodies are like songs for the piano. The right hand often sings a beautiful tune, while the left hand plays a gentle background. He also used the rhythms of Polish dances in his music, and many people think this was because he missed his home country.
Some pieces to know
Chopin gave many of his pieces the names of dances or night songs.
- Nocturnes
- Quiet, dreamy night songs for piano.
- Waltzes
- Dances in three beats, some slow and some very fast, like the "Minute Waltz".
- Polonaises
- Proud Polish dances with a strong rhythm.
- Études
- Pieces that are also exercises, usually each practising one skill, yet beautiful to listen to.
Piano sound: Salamander Grand Piano by Alexander Holm (CC BY 3.0).