Frédéric Chopin
1810 – 1849
Chopin is the poet of the piano. No composer has ever understood the instrument so intimately or used it to express such depths of feeling. His music speaks directly to the heart — nostalgic, passionate, and achingly beautiful.
Essential Listening
Nocturne in E-flat major, Op. 9 No. 2
The quintessential Chopin nocturne — a song without words that floats through the night air. Romantic, intimate, and endlessly singable.
Ballade No. 1 in G minor
An epic narrative in music. This ballade builds from mysterious opening to thunderous climax — a complete emotional journey in ten minutes.
Prelude in E minor, Op. 28 No. 4
Two minutes of pure, distilled melancholy. The melody barely moves while the harmony shifts beneath it, creating an atmosphere of profound sadness.
Waltz in C-sharp minor, Op. 64 No. 2
Elegance personified. This waltz captures the bittersweet beauty of a Parisian salon — refined, wistful, and impossibly graceful.
Piano Sonata No. 2 - Funeral March
The most famous funeral march ever written. Solemn, majestic, and deeply moving — with a tender, consoling middle section.
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