VII. FR ÉDÉRIC CHOPIN

1. VII. FRÉDÉRIC CHOPIN

2. “The Poet of the Piano” – only great composer who wrote almost exclusively for piano • Raised in Warsaw, Poland • Main airport in Poland is named after him • Moved to Paris at 21, stayed the rest of his life

3. Friends with Victor Hugo (poet), Delacroix (painter, Liszt and Berlioz • Shy, disliked crowds, preferred to play in salons rather than concert halls • Frail physique • Difficulty drawing big sounds out of the piano • Known for tone, rhythmic flexibility, atmospheric use of the pedal

4. Elegant, fashionable • Lived in luxury • Met Aurore Dudevant • Well-known novelist, pen name: George Sand • Feminist, often wore men’s clothing, smoked cigars, fought for sexual freedom

5. Became lovers when Chopin was 28 and she was 34 • Chopin thrived on her care, composing many of his greatest works in the 9 years they lived together • After their split, his health deteriorated and he composed very little

6. Died of tuberculosis at 39

7. Chopin’s Music • Relatively small body of work compared to other composers • Most pieces short, but exhibit infinite variety of moods • Elegant and graceful • Seen as the composer who best wrote for piano and its expressive ability

8. Music lends well to rubato for heightened expression • Lends a poetic and improvisatory quality to his music

9. LISTENING TO CHOPIN Nocturne in E Flat Major, Op. 9, No. 2 Written when he was about 20 Nocturne – (“night piece”) slow, lyrical, intimate composition for piano Books pg. 302

10. LISTENING TO CHOPIN Étude in C Minor, Op. 10, No. 12 (Revolutionary) Étude – study piece designed to help a performer master specific technical difficulties The Revolutionary develops speed and endurance in the left hand Books pg. 304

11. VIII. FRANZ LISZT 1811-1886

12. Handsome, long-haired, magnetic personality • Born in Hungary • Studied in Vienna, met Beethoven and Schubert • By age 19, already known as a brilliant pianist

13. Incredible showman, irresistable to women • Age 36: abandoned traveling, became court conductor for Duke of Weimar • Composed orchestral works • Taught students free of charge • One of the most unselfish and generous musicians who ever lived • Was known to provide financial support to Wagner

14. Active writer, publishing music criticism and books on Chopin and other topics

15. 1861 – resigned Weimar, went to Rome, took holy orders in 1865 • Contemporaries thought this strange • “Don Juan: Holy Man” • Composed masses, oratorios • Last 17 years of his life: traveled again • Wrote some experimental piano music that foreshadowed some 20th c. music

16. Liszt’s Music • Controversial—some think it’s vulgar, bombastic; others revel in its extroverted romantic rhetoric • Found new ways to exploit piano—unprecedented range of dynamics • Created symphonic poem, or tone poem—a one-movement orchestral composition based to some extent on literary or pictorial ideas • Highly influential on other composers

17. LISTENING TO LISZT Transcendental Étude No. 10 in F Minor (1851) Books pg. 309-310

18. IX. FELIX MENDELSSOHN 1809-1847

19. Born in Hamburg, Germany • From wealthy, famous family • Father: banker • Grandfather: Jewish philosopher Moses Mendelssohn • Age 9: brilliant pianist • Age 13: had written symphonies, concertos, sonatas, vocal works

20. Age 20: conducted Bach’s St. Matthew Passion—first time since Bach’s death, started Baroque revival • Often performed as pianist/organist • Age 26: became conductor of the Leipzig Orchestra—transformed it into one of the finest groups in Europe

21. Also painter, writer, brilliant conversationalist in 4 languages • Happily married, father of 4 • Died at age 38 of a stroke

22. LISTENING TO MENDELSSOHN Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in E Minor, Op. 64 Books pgs. 312-316

23. HOMEWORK • Compare and contrast the following composers in 3 categories: • personal life, performance abilities, compositional style Frederic Chopin, Franz Liszt, Felix Mendelssohn This Thursday: Group work in the Media Center