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Nocturnes and Polonaises
Frédéric Chopin did not attempt to preserve definitive versions of his compositions because he disliked the labor of writing down notes. Improvising his performances at will, he never played a piece the same way twice. As a result, there are numerous texts of any single Chopin work and the editions of these texts have more editorial "improvisation" than do the texts of most composers. One of the most respected editions was prepared by Carl Mikuli, Chopin's student and, later, his teaching assistant, who was in a particularly privileged and advantageous position to take into account all that the master brought to his playing and teaching. His editorial contributions to this volume reflect his understanding of the principles that underly this body of work, imparted to him in word and deed by the composer.
The 20 nocturnes reproduced here include Opp. 9, 15, 27, 32, 37, 48, 55, 62, 72, and the posthumous Nocturne in C-sharp Minor. The 11 polonaises include Opp. 26, 40, 44, 53, 61,71, and the posthumous Polonaise in G-sharp Minor.
Serious pianists will want to have these authoritative texts of 31 of Chopin’s most popular and enduring works.
The 20 nocturnes reproduced here include Opp. 9, 15, 27, 32, 37, 48, 55, 62, 72, and the posthumous Nocturne in C-sharp Minor. The 11 polonaises include Opp. 26, 40, 44, 53, 61,71, and the posthumous Polonaise in G-sharp Minor.
Serious pianists will want to have these authoritative texts of 31 of Chopin’s most popular and enduring works.
- GenresMusic
224 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 1985
About the author
Frédéric Chopin
2,118 books92 followersFrédéric François Chopin (1 March 1810 –17 October 1849) is one of the most famous, influential, and admired composers and virtuoso pianists of the Romantic era.
He was born Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin, of Polish and French parentage, in the village of Żelazowa Wola, Poland. In Warsaw he was hailed as a child prodigy and as the “second Mozart” for his piano and composition skill, for which the composer Robert Schumann complimented the talented pianist: “Hats off, gentlemen, a genius!”
Due to the political situation in Poland, he left his country for France at the age of twenty. There he composed his two piano concertos with their patriotic Polish themes and rhythms, based on traditional polish dances. He never returned to Poland, but after his death his sister Ludwika took his heart to Poland - in accordance with his last will, where it was placed inside a pillar of the Holy Cross Church at Krakowskie Przedmiescie Street.
In Paris, he made a career as a performer and teacher as well as a composer, and he adopted the French variant of his name, “Frédéric-François”. In 1836 he met the French writer George Sand, with whom he had a relationship for nine years until 1847. He suffered poor health for much of his life and this forced him to give up performing and teaching shortly before he died on 17th October 1849.
His compositions, which are almost exclusively for the piano, such as the Funeral March piano sonata and the twenty-seven études (op. 10 and op.25, plus a further set of three without opus numbers), are widely considered to be amongst the pinnacles of the piano repertoire. Although some of his music is among the most technically demanding for the instrument, Chopin’s style emphasizes poetry, nuance and expressive depth, rather than mere technical display. He is often cited as one of the mainstays of romanticism in nineteenth-century classical music.
He was born Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin, of Polish and French parentage, in the village of Żelazowa Wola, Poland. In Warsaw he was hailed as a child prodigy and as the “second Mozart” for his piano and composition skill, for which the composer Robert Schumann complimented the talented pianist: “Hats off, gentlemen, a genius!”
Due to the political situation in Poland, he left his country for France at the age of twenty. There he composed his two piano concertos with their patriotic Polish themes and rhythms, based on traditional polish dances. He never returned to Poland, but after his death his sister Ludwika took his heart to Poland - in accordance with his last will, where it was placed inside a pillar of the Holy Cross Church at Krakowskie Przedmiescie Street.
In Paris, he made a career as a performer and teacher as well as a composer, and he adopted the French variant of his name, “Frédéric-François”. In 1836 he met the French writer George Sand, with whom he had a relationship for nine years until 1847. He suffered poor health for much of his life and this forced him to give up performing and teaching shortly before he died on 17th October 1849.
His compositions, which are almost exclusively for the piano, such as the Funeral March piano sonata and the twenty-seven études (op. 10 and op.25, plus a further set of three without opus numbers), are widely considered to be amongst the pinnacles of the piano repertoire. Although some of his music is among the most technically demanding for the instrument, Chopin’s style emphasizes poetry, nuance and expressive depth, rather than mere technical display. He is often cited as one of the mainstays of romanticism in nineteenth-century classical music.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 24, 2012
It's a good edition.
I remember the day I wanted to buy this book my friend was with me. I opened the Polonaise I was going to practise and the music came out of my mouth while seeing the notes. I guess I like the the nocturns and polonaises of chopin. The military polonaise, Nocturn in posthumous Opus.
I remember the day I wanted to buy this book my friend was with me. I opened the Polonaise I was going to practise and the music came out of my mouth while seeing the notes. I guess I like the the nocturns and polonaises of chopin. The military polonaise, Nocturn in posthumous Opus.
September 8, 2007
beauty.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews