The Life of Frederic Chopin

Maybe you’ve seen the viral videos of a child raving over Chopin, or maybe you’ve heard one of his many famous pieces. Nonetheless, Frederic Chopin is a staple artist and composer in the realm of Romantic classical music.

Born in Poland on March 1st, 1810, Frederic began his musical career as early as age six, composing and performing his pieces very early in his life. In his late childhood, Frederic Chopin began gaining more recognition for his musical work, eventually playing for major political figures like Constantine of Russia and Alexander the first. By this point in his life, Chopin and his family decided to devote more of his life to his music, and put him in the Warsaw Conservatory of Music. 

After leaving the Conservatory, Chopin set his sights on bigger goals, and larger cities. This newfound determination led him to leave for Vienna, Austria with the help of his parents. After visiting, he made more trips around Europe, stopping in multiple musical hotspots in the area. Eventually, Frederic decided to end his traveling journey in Paris, France, and began creating a life there. His musicality and sophisticated manner landed him many performances and students, as Chopin also began a career as a teacher.

Life was looking bright for Chopin, with a bustling business and growing fame. At this point, he also met a potential love interest – novelist Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin. For a break, the pair decided to enjoy a winter time vacation, which unfortunately led to Frederic falling ill, most likely woh tuberculosis. Despite the dangers of this illness, Chopin was nursed back to health, and was able to recover in three months. To maintain what little health remained, he turned to private teaching, which kept his fingers nimble, and his mind sharp. 

By now, Frederic Chopin was reaching the unfortunate end of his life, which also didn’t look too bright. His once strong relationship with Dupin began to dwindle, and added strain from other family members certainly worsened the situation. Recent medical developments like Chopin’s possibility of epilepsy also added unwanted pressure between the pair. To close the final chapter of his life, Frederic Chopin passed away on October 17, 1849, living to be 39 years.

While Chopin is dead, his works continue to have a large impact. Most notably, his pieces Nocturne in E flat, Op. 9., No. 2 and Polonaise-Fantaisie maintained a presence among Romantic classical music.

Bibliography

Team, uD. (2021, February 27). Best Chopin Works: 10 Essential Pieces By The Great Composer |. uDiscover Music. https://www.udiscovermusic.com/classical-features/best-chopin-works-10-essential-pieces/. 

Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. (n.d.). Works of Frédéric Chopin. Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Frederic-Chopin/Works. 

A&E Networks Television. (2021, March 26). Frédéric Chopin. Biography.com. https://www.biography.com/musician/frederic-chopin.