Facts About Chopin!

This was Chopin at age 25 in 1835.

Frederic ( freh-duh-Reek ) Chopin    (SHO-pan) was born on February 22, 1810.  Chopin was born in a small village called Zelazowa, Wola in Duchy, Warsaw.    


























Chopin's mother was from Poland, and his father was a French immigrant from Poland.  They were deeply in love.  Chopin's mother's name was Justyna Chopin, and his father's name was Nicholas Chopin.                                  

This was Chopin's father, Nicholas Chopin.

This was Chopin's mother, Justyna Chopin.

∆  Chopin completed his music education in Warsaw.  After he graduated, he decided to leave Poland forever.  Chopin settled in Paris remaining 19 years of life.  Out of all of Chopin's pieces, he only gave 30 public performances.  

∆  His first job in Paris was a piano teacher.  He taught 12 kids.  He enjoyed being a teacher, but he wanted to have a family, he wanted to be in love.  He dated many Polish women.  He actually was engaged to a French writer through 1837-1847.  They were engaged for 10 years, but unfortunately never married.  

∆  In September 1849,  Chopin took a beautiful apartment at Place Vendonne 12.  The room was on the second floor, and his room was #7.  Chopin could not afford it, but Jane Stirling, his wealthy Scottish pupil rented it for him.  After that, they became great friends.  

∆  Chopin's vast majorities work was solo piano, although wrote two piano concertos, a few chamber pieces, and songs to Polish texts.  

∆  Chopin's piano works are often technically demanding with an emphasis on nuance and expression depth.  Chopin made major innovations to the Piano Sonata, Mazurka, Waltz, Nocturne, Polonaise, and Etude.  

∆  Throughout Chopin's career, he longed to have a family.  June 1849, his sister, Ludwika Jedrzejewicz agreed to come to Paris.  

∆  Most of Chopin's life, he has suffered poor health.   One day, Chopin got very sick.  The next day, on Wednesday, October 17, after midnight, the physician leaned over and asked if he was suffering greatly.  Chopin replied, " Not any more. " And that was his last words.  He died a few minutes before 2:00am.  

Chopin had many fans.  So, his family opened his apartment into a small exhibit.  They kept every single thing he had.  His couch, bed, stove, and of course, his piano.  If you touched one little thing,  an alarm will go off and you will go to jail.  

This is Chopin's apartment.  Everything in here is priceless.

This is Chopin's grave sight.
Every year, his family puts bundles of roses.










My favorite piece by Chopin,
is the song from the movie,
The Notebook.
The good news is,my brother can play it on the
piano!  Here it is: 
 

Do you know any famous musicians?

Do you know any other pieces by Chopin?  If so, what is your favorite?