People of every walk of life and from every cultural milieu have been inspired,
allured, and touched by the music of one particular Polish composer, Fryderyk
Chopin.
Fryderyk Chopin was born in March 1810 in the village of Żelazowa Wola, Poland.
The village is the birthplace of the pianist and composer Fryderyk Chopin, and also of the violinist Henryk Szeryng.
It is known for its picturesque Masovian landscape, and numerous winding streams surrounded by willows and hillocks (source).
These dreamy environs doubtless sowed early seeds in the young Chopin, contributing to what would eventually blossom into an almost divine musical inspiration.
His aptitude as both a pianist and a composer blossomed early, and by age 20 he
had composed two piano concertos as well as numerous smaller works. He performed
his F minor concerto (Op. 21) at the National Theater in Warsaw in 1829 as part
of what was destined to be his final concert in his beloved Poland. He left
Poland in 1830, eventually settling in Paris, where he spent the rest of his
short life. He died at age 39 and was buried at the Père-Lachaise cemetery (right),
but in an act of poetic justice (and per his wishes), his heart was returned
to Poland where it is presently interred.
His body of work is impressive not merely for its quantity, given his short time
on this earth, but for its unique transcendent and sometimes haunting quality.
Although all of his works are challenging to virtuoso performers, and the more
difficult were designed for his own abilities as a pianist, he wrote a number of
them for his students. This is perhaps why many are approachable by amateur
pianists.
So it is perhaps appropriate that we are a group of avocational pianists of
diverse backgrounds. We met on the Piano World website (http://www.pianoworld.com),
and twice a year — on the anniversary of Chopin’s birth (1st March) and death
(17th October) — we gather in cyberspace and present an e-cital of his music.
Although but a meager testimony to the man and his greatness, we view this
effort as a celebration of his piano music by amateur enthusiasts of all levels
of ability.
This page and the recordings contained herein are dedicated to the memory of
Fryderyk Chopin. We cordially invite you to share in the joy of his music.
