Frederick Chopin

a.k.a. Frederick Francois Chopin

Author Code: OFCX

Chopin received his musical education in Warsaw and produced his first polonaise, or Polish dance, when he was only eight years old. He moved to Paris when he was 21 and became a great success under the patronage of the Rothschild family. For the next 5 years Chopin earned a good living as a piano teacher and also derived a substantial income from public performances, although he never really enjoyed this aspect of his career. In 1836, he was introduced to George Sand, the novelist, by Franz Liszt, and this developed into a notorious love affair that was to last eleven years. In 1839, he and Sand spent the winter on Majorca where he wrote the set of Preludes op. 28, which contains the beautiful Raindrop Prelude (No. 15). During this stay, however, Chopin's lungs became inflammed which was ultimately to turn into consumption. They returned to Paris, where he produced such works as the Bacarolle, Berceuse and Sonata in B Flat Minor. After their split in 1847, Chopin visited England and Scotland, giving several concerts and also playing for Queen Victoria. Returning to Paris, Chopin's illness developed further and in less than a year he was dead at the age of 39. Chopin will be remembered as one of the greatest Romantic composers for the piano and one whose passionate gift for melody was without precedent in the history of music.