Frederic Chopin Biography - A Very Quick Guide
Artist:
Frederic Chopin
Born:
1810, Zelazowa Wola, Poland
Died:
1849, Paris
Who Was Frédéric Chopin?
Frédéric Chopin (1810–1849) was a Polish composer and pianist who spent much of his career in France. He is regarded as one of the leading figures of 19th-century Romantic music, despite the fact that most of his works are abstract in nature. He wrote almost entirely for solo piano and his works remain central to the instrument’s repertoire.
Chopin’s Birth and Origins
Chopin was born on March 1, 1810, in Żelazowa Wola, near Warsaw, Poland. His father, Nicolas Chopin, was a French teacher who had settled in Poland. His mother, Justyna Krzyżanowska, was Polish. The family moved to Warsaw shortly after his birth.
What Kind of Music Did Chopin Write?
Chopin wrote almost exclusively for the piano, with only a few works for other instruments. His output includes études, nocturnes, waltzes, polonaises, mazurkas, preludes, ballades, and two piano concertos. Many of these forms draw on Polish dance rhythms and styles, while others reflect the broader traditions of European Romantic music.
What Are Chopin’s Most Famous Compositions?
Some of Chopin’s best-known works include:
Nocturne in E-flat Major, Op. 9 No. 2
Ballade No. 1 in G minor, Op. 23
Prelude in D-flat Major, Op. 28 No. 15 (“Raindrop Prelude”)
Étude in C minor, Op. 10 No. 12 (“Revolutionary Étude”)
Polonaise in A-flat Major, Op. 53 (“Heroic”)
Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11
Who Was George Sand?
George Sand (Aurore Dupin) was a French novelist and Chopin’s partner from 1838 to 1847. Their relationship was both personal and professional; Chopin composed a number of major works during the years they lived together, particularly at Sand’s country home in Nohant, France.
Where Did Chopin Live and Work?
After leaving Poland in 1830, Chopin settled in Paris, where he lived for the rest of his life. He earned his living mainly as a teacher and performer in private salons. Although he became a French citizen in 1835, he maintained close ties to the Polish émigré community and considered himself Polish throughout his life.
How Did Chopin Die?
Chopin died on October 17, 1849, in Paris, most likely from tuberculosis. He was 39 years old. His body was buried in Père Lachaise Cemetery, but his heart was taken to Warsaw, where it remains interred in the Church of the Holy Cross.
Frédéric Chopin (1810–1849) was a Polish composer and pianist who spent much of his career in France. He is regarded as one of the leading figures of 19th-century Romantic music, despite the fact that most of his works are abstract in nature. He wrote almost entirely for solo piano and his works remain central to the instrument’s repertoire.
Chopin’s Birth and Origins
Chopin was born on March 1, 1810, in Żelazowa Wola, near Warsaw, Poland. His father, Nicolas Chopin, was a French teacher who had settled in Poland. His mother, Justyna Krzyżanowska, was Polish. The family moved to Warsaw shortly after his birth.
What Kind of Music Did Chopin Write?
Chopin wrote almost exclusively for the piano, with only a few works for other instruments. His output includes études, nocturnes, waltzes, polonaises, mazurkas, preludes, ballades, and two piano concertos. Many of these forms draw on Polish dance rhythms and styles, while others reflect the broader traditions of European Romantic music.
What Are Chopin’s Most Famous Compositions?
Some of Chopin’s best-known works include:
Who Was George Sand?
George Sand (Aurore Dupin) was a French novelist and Chopin’s partner from 1838 to 1847. Their relationship was both personal and professional; Chopin composed a number of major works during the years they lived together, particularly at Sand’s country home in Nohant, France.
Where Did Chopin Live and Work?
After leaving Poland in 1830, Chopin settled in Paris, where he lived for the rest of his life. He earned his living mainly as a teacher and performer in private salons. Although he became a French citizen in 1835, he maintained close ties to the Polish émigré community and considered himself Polish throughout his life.
How Did Chopin Die?
Chopin died on October 17, 1849, in Paris, most likely from tuberculosis. He was 39 years old. His body was buried in Père Lachaise Cemetery, but his heart was taken to Warsaw, where it remains interred in the Church of the Holy Cross.
Useful recources:
Narodowy Instytut Fryderyka Chopina — research institute and archive.
Chopin Online — major digital resource for his first editions and manuscripts.
Chopin Foundation of the United States
Life / Biography of Frederic Chopin (chopin.pl) — detailed biographical resource.
Official site of the International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition
Wikipedia – Frédéric Chopin
8notes Chopin Collection — Free Frédéric Chopin Sheet Music
Top Pieces on 8notes by Frederic Chopin