Frédéric Chopin - Child Prodigies, Timeline and Childhood
Frédéric Chopin's Personal Details
Frederic Chopin was a Polish composer and virtuoso pianist
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | March 1, 1810 |
| Died on | October 17, 1849 |
| Nationality | Polish |
| Famous | Child Prodigies, Musicians, Pianists, Composers |
| Siblings | Emilia Chopin, Izabela Barciński, Ludwika Jędrzejewicz |
| Known as | Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin |
| Universities |
|
| Cause of death |
|
| Birth Place | Żelazowa Wola |
| Religion | Catholicism |
| Gender | Male |
| Father | Nicolas Chopin |
| Mother | Justyna Krzyżanowska |
| Sun Sign | Pisces |
| Born in | Żelazowa Wola |
| Famous as | Composer |
| Died at Age | 39 |
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Frédéric Chopin's photo
Who is Frédéric Chopin?
Frederic Francois Chopin was a 19th century Polish composer and virtuoso pianist who wrote primarily for the solo piano. He was a poetic genius and one of music's earliest superstars. He was blessed with a professional technique that was unparalleled in his generation. He was a child prodigy and had started giving public concerts by the age of seven He left for Vienna a month before the November 1830 Uprising; by this time he had already completed his musical education and had composed many works in Warsaw. Eventually he settled in Paris and obtained French citizenship. Primarily he earned his living by selling his compositions and teaching piano. His piano compositions were very popular and included sonatas, mazurkas, waltzes, nocturnes, polonaises, études, impromptus, scherzos, and preludes. He mostly preferred to perform in salons and gave just 30 public performances in the last 18 years of his life. He became involved in a love affair with the French novelist Amantine-Lucile-Aurore Dupin, a.k.a. George Sand and this relationship had a deep influence on his creativity. Frederic's health remained an area of concern throughout his life and took a severe toll on his productivity, which was further compounded by the ending of his relationship with Sand. After several years of indifferent health he finally succumbed to tuberculosis and passed away in Paris. His pupil and admirer, Jane Stirling, supported him financially in the last years of his life.
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Childhood & Early Life
Frederic Chopin was born as Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin near Warsaw, Poland. His date-of-birth remains disputed. The parish baptismal record gives his birthday as February 22, 1810 but according to the statements of the artist and his family, it is March 1, 1810.
He was the second of four children of Nicholas Chopin, a Frenchman, and his Polish wife, Justina, who was a well-educated but poor relative of the Skarbeks, a family Nicholas worked for.
Frederic received some piano instructions from his mother, and later studied piano from Wojciech Zywny, and harmony and counterpoint from Jozef Elsner.
The ruler of Russian Poland, Grand Duke Constantine often invited him as a playmate for his son. He played the piano and also composed a march for the Duke's army.
Frederic Chopin gave his first public concert at the age of seven and was compared to the legendary composer, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. He also composed two polonaises the same year, one in G minor and the other in B-flat major.
Career
In 1821, Frederic Chopin composed a polonaise in A-flat major. He dedicated this to his tutor Zywny. The composition is his earliest surviving manuscript.
He attended the Warsaw Lyceum from September 1823 to 1826 and the Czech musician Wilhelm Wurfel gave him organ lessons in the first year.
In 1825, he performed with a new instrument called 'eolomelodicon' in front of the Tsar Alexander I who was visiting Warsaw. Impressed with the young boy's talents, the Tsar gave him a diamond ring.
On June 10, 1825, at an eolomelodicon concert he performed his Rondo Op 1. The performance was commercially published and earned him his first mention in the foreign press.
In 1826, he began a three-year course under the Silesian composer, Josef Elsner, at the Warsaw Conservatory. He studied music theory, figured bass and composition.
He attended harvest festivities and peasant weddings which exposed him to authentic rural folk-music for the first time. This left a deep impression on him and he decided to travel around Europe to have more exposure to other musicians and also to publish several of his works.
In September 1828, he visited Berlin and enjoyed operas directed by Gaspare Spontini and concerts of Carl Friedrich Zelter, Felix Mendelssohn and other celebrities.
In 1829, in Berlin, Frederic Chopin was the guest to Prince Antoni Radziwill, who was himself an accomplished composer and cellist. Frederic composed 'Introduction and Polonaise brillante in C major for cello and piano' for the prince and his daughter.
On August 11, 1829 he made his debut in Vienna with two piano concerts with favourable reviews. In one of these concerts, he premiered his 'Variations on La ci darem la mano, Op. 2' for piano and orchestra.
On November 2, 1830 he set out for Western Europe with his friend Woyciechowski. They reached Austria, intending to go to Italy but the news of the 'November 1830 Uprising' reached them and his friend returned to Poland.
He reached Paris in September 1831 and never returned to Poland. In 1835 he received his French citizenship and he travelled on his French passport. But he never felt comfortable in speaking French and always considered himself a Pole.
In pursuit of inspiration and learning, he became acquainted with Hector Berlioz, Franz Liszt, Ferdinand Hiller, Heinrich Heine, Eugene Delacroix, Alfred de Vigny and Adam Mickiewicz.
On February 26, 1832, he gave his debut concert in Paris at Salle Pleyel. With the help of the wealthy Rothschild banking family he got the chance to perform at other private salons. These performances earned him respect from his peers and established him amongst the Parisian musical elite.
He became financially independent after publishing his works and teaching piano to affluent students from all over Europe which liberated him from performing at concerts.
Chopin's music soon found success with publishers, and in 1833 he contracted with Maurice Schlesinger, who arranged for his works to be published in France, Germany and England.
Over a period of time, Chopin's output as a composer declined in quantity year by year. In 1841 he had written a dozen works, though only six were written in 1842, followed by six shorter pieces in 1843.
His health started deteriorating from 1842 and he had to decline several invitations for concerts. Modern research suggests he might have suffered from 'temporal lobe epilepsy'.
In February 1848, he gave his last Paris concert including three movements of the Cello Sonata Op. 65, with the cellist Auguste Franchomme.
In April 1848 he left for London and performed at several concerts and receptions. He then travelled to Scotland and gave public concerts in Glasgow and Edinburgh.
His last performance was for the benefit of Polish refugees on November 16, 1848 in London's Guildhall.
Major Works
His major works include sonatas, the four scherzos, the four ballads, the Fantaisie in F minor, Op. 49 and the Barcarole in F-sharp major, Op. 60.
In shorter works, his major accomplishments were mazurkas, waltzes, polonaises, etudes, impromptus, scherzos and preludes.
Personal Life & Legacy
He was once engaged to Maria Wodzińska though the marriage was ultimately called off.
Later on he had a love affair with French novelist Amantine-Lucile-Aurore Dupin, better known as George Sand.
Frederic Chopin died on October 17, 1849 at the age of 39. Officially, it was said that he died due to tuberculosis but this is disputed. Other possibilities that have been attributed to his death include: cystic fibrosis, cirrhosis and alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency.
As per his Chopin’s wish, his sister Ludwika took his heart in an urn, preserved in alcohol, back to Poland in 1850.
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Frédéric Chopin biography timelines
- // 1st Mar 1810Frederic Chopin was born as Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin near Warsaw, Poland. His date-of-birth remains disputed. The parish baptismal record gives his birthday as February 22, 1810 but according to the statements of the artist and his family, it is March 1, 1810.
- // 1821In 1821, Frederic Chopin composed a polonaise in A-flat major. He dedicated this to his tutor Zywny. The composition is his earliest surviving manuscript.
- // Sep 1823 To 1826He attended the Warsaw Lyceum from September 1823 to 1826 and the Czech musician Wilhelm Wurfel gave him organ lessons in the first year.
- // 1825In 1825, he performed with a new instrument called 'eolomelodicon' in front of the Tsar Alexander I who was visiting Warsaw. Impressed with the young boy's talents, the Tsar gave him a diamond ring.
- // 10th Jun 1825On June 10, 1825, at an eolomelodicon concert he performed his Rondo Op 1. The performance was commercially published and earned him his first mention in the foreign press.
- // 1826In 1826, he began a three-year course under the Silesian composer, Josef Elsner, at the Warsaw Conservatory. He studied music theory, figured bass and composition.
- // Sep 1828In September 1828, he visited Berlin and enjoyed operas directed by Gaspare Spontini and concerts of Carl Friedrich Zelter, Felix Mendelssohn and other celebrities.
- // 1829In 1829, in Berlin, Frederic Chopin was the guest to Prince Antoni Radziwill, who was himself an accomplished composer and cellist. Frederic composed 'Introduction and Polonaise brillante in C major for cello and piano' for the prince and his daughter.
- // 11th Aug 1829On August 11, 1829 he made his debut in Vienna with two piano concerts with favourable reviews. In one of these concerts, he premiered his 'Variations on La ci darem la mano, Op. 2' for piano and orchestra.
- // 2nd Nov 1830On November 2, 1830 he set out for Western Europe with his friend Woyciechowski. They reached Austria, intending to go to Italy but the news of the 'November 1830 Uprising' reached them and his friend returned to Poland.
- // Sep 1831 To 1835He reached Paris in September 1831 and never returned to Poland. In 1835 he received his French citizenship and he travelled on his French passport. But he never felt comfortable in speaking French and always considered himself a Pole.
- // 26th Feb 1832On February 26, 1832, he gave his debut concert in Paris at Salle Pleyel. With the help of the wealthy Rothschild banking family he got the chance to perform at other private salons. These performances earned him respect from his peers and established him amongst the Parisian musical elite.
- // 1833Chopin's music soon found success with publishers, and in 1833 he contracted with Maurice Schlesinger, who arranged for his works to be published in France, Germany and England.
- // 1841 To 1843Over a period of time, Chopin's output as a composer declined in quantity year by year. In 1841 he had written a dozen works, though only six were written in 1842, followed by six shorter pieces in 1843.
- // 1842His health started deteriorating from 1842 and he had to decline several invitations for concerts. Modern research suggests he might have suffered from 'temporal lobe epilepsy'.
- // Feb 1848In February 1848, he gave his last Paris concert including three movements of the Cello Sonata Op. 65, with the cellist Auguste Franchomme.
- // Apr 1848In April 1848 he left for London and performed at several concerts and receptions. He then travelled to Scotland and gave public concerts in Glasgow and Edinburgh.
- // 16th Nov 1848His last performance was for the benefit of Polish refugees on November 16, 1848 in London's Guildhall.
- // 17th Oct 1849Frederic Chopin died on October 17, 1849 at the age of 39. Officially, it was said that he died due to tuberculosis but this is disputed. Other possibilities that have been attributed to his death include: cystic fibrosis, cirrhosis and alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency.
- // 1850As per his Chopin’s wish, his sister Ludwika took his heart in an urn, preserved in alcohol, back to Poland in 1850.
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Frédéric Chopin's FAQ
What is Frédéric Chopin birthday?
Frédéric Chopin was born at 1810-03-01
When was Frédéric Chopin died?
Frédéric Chopin was died at 1849-10-17
Where was Frédéric Chopin died?
Frédéric Chopin was died in Paris
Which age was Frédéric Chopin died?
Frédéric Chopin was died at age 39
Where is Frédéric Chopin's birth place?
Frédéric Chopin was born in Żelazowa Wola
What is Frédéric Chopin nationalities?
Frédéric Chopin's nationalities is Polish
Who is Frédéric Chopin siblings?
Frédéric Chopin's siblings is Emilia Chopin, Izabela Barciński, Ludwika Jędrzejewicz
What was Frédéric Chopin universities?
Frédéric Chopin studied at 1826 - Warsaw Lyceum, 1829 - Fryderyk Chopin University of Music
What is Frédéric Chopin's cause of dead?
Frédéric Chopin dead because of Tuberculosis
What is Frédéric Chopin's religion?
Frédéric Chopin's religion is Catholicism
Who is Frédéric Chopin's father?
Frédéric Chopin's father is Nicolas Chopin
Who is Frédéric Chopin's mother?
Frédéric Chopin's mother is Justyna Krzyżanowska
What is Frédéric Chopin's sun sign?
Frédéric Chopin is Pisces
How famous is Frédéric Chopin?
Frédéric Chopin is famouse as Composer