Chopin was born Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin in the Duchy of Warsaw and grew up in Warsaw, which in 1815 became part of Congress Poland. A child prodigy, he completed his musical education and composed his earlier works in Warsaw before leaving Poland at the age of 20, less than a month before the outbreak of the November 1830 Uprising. At 21, he settled in Paris. Thereafter—in the last 18 years of his life—he gave only 30 public performances, preferring the more intimate atmosphere of the salon. He supported himself by selling his compositions and by giving piano lessons, for which he was in high demand. Chopin formed a friendship with Franz Liszt and was admired by many of his other musical contemporaries (including Robert Schumann). In 1835, Chopin obtained French citizenship. After a failed engagement to Maria Wodzińska from 1836 to 1837, he maintained an often troubled relationship with the French writer Amantine Dupin (known by her pen name, George Sand). A brief and unhappy visit to Majorca with Sand in 1838–39 would prove one of his most productive periods of composition. In his final years, he was supported financially by his admirer Jane Stirling, who also arranged for him to visit Scotland in 1848. For most of his life, Chopin was in poor health. He died in Paris in 1849 at the age of 39, probably of pericarditis aggravated by tuberculosis.
All of Chopin's compositions include the piano. Most are for solo piano, though he also wrote two piano concertos, a few chamber pieces, and some 19 songs set to Polish lyrics. His piano writing was technically demanding and expanded the limits of the instrument: his own performances were noted for their nuance and sensitivity. Chopin invented the concept of the instrumental ballade. His major piano works also include mazurkas, waltzes, nocturnes, polonaises, études, impromptus, scherzos, preludes and sonatas, some published only posthumously. Among the influences on his style of composition were Polish folk music, the classical tradition of J.S. Bach, Mozart, and Schubert, and the atmosphere of the Paris salons of which he was a frequent guest. His innovations in style, harmony, and musical form, and his association of music with nationalism, were influential throughout and after the late Romantic period.
Chopin's music, his status as one of music's earliest superstars, his (indirect) association with political insurrection, his high-profile love-life, and his early death have made him a leading symbol of the Romantic era. His works remain popular, and he has been the subject of numerous films and biographies of varying historical fidelity.
Over 230 works of Chopin survive; some compositions from early childhood have been lost. All his known works involve the piano, and only a few range beyond solo piano music, as either piano concertos, songs or chamber music.
Chopin was educated in the tradition of Beethoven, Haydn, Mozart and Clementi; he used Clementi's piano method with his own students. He was also influenced by Hummel's development of virtuoso, yet Mozartian, piano technique. He cited Bach and Mozart as the two most important composers in shaping his musical outlook. Chopin's early works are in the style of the "brilliant" keyboard pieces of his era as exemplified by the works of Ignaz Moscheles, Friedrich Kalkbrenner, and others. Less direct in the earlier period are the influences of Polish folk music and of Italian opera. Much of what became his typical style of ornamentation (for example, his fioriture) is taken from singing. His melodic lines were increasingly reminiscent of the modes and features of the music of his native country, such as drones.
Chopin took the new salon genre of the nocturne, invented by the Irish composer John Field, to a deeper level of sophistication. He was the first to write ballades and scherzi as individual concert pieces. He essentially established a new genre with his own set of free-standing preludes (Op. 28, published 1839). He exploited the poetic potential of the concept of the concert étude, already being developed in the 1820s and 1830s by Liszt, Clementi and Moscheles, in his two sets of studies (Op. 10 published in 1833, Op. 25 in 1837).
Chopin also endowed popular dance forms with a greater range of melody and expression. Chopin's mazurkas, while originating in the traditional Polish dance (the mazurek), differed from the traditional variety in that they were written for the concert hall rather than the dance hall; as J. Barrie Jones puts it, "it was Chopin who put the mazurka on the European musical map." The series of seven polonaises published in his lifetime (another nine were published posthumously), beginning with the Op. 26 pair (published 1836), set a new standard for music in the form. His waltzes were also written specifically for the salon recital rather than the ballroom and are frequently at rather faster tempos than their dance-floor equivalents.
Nocturne
Frédéric Chopin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We’ve barely left a word unspoken
Exploring the grounds
Of this big old house
Mother, don’t you worry I’m in good company
There’s news from Szafarnia
Today we rode out to the country
Dominic thinks I should
Stick to the paper and the ivory
But my health ain’t so great
Six cups of coffee each day
And I long to see you
But how I wish I could stay
There’s a girl
Called Konstancja
She sings like a siren of titan
But my heart must insist
She won’t know I exist
There’s holes in her favorite brown pullover sleeves
But my health ain’t so great
Six cups of coffee each day
And I long to see you
But how I wish I could stay
The lyrics to Frédéric Chopin's song "Nocturne" depict the inner thoughts and emotions of the singer, who is reflecting on their current situation. The opening lines, "My books lie unopened, We've barely left a word unspoken," suggest a sense of stagnation and unfulfilled communication. The singer finds themselves exploring the grounds of a big old house, possibly seeking solace or inspiration within their own thoughts and surroundings.
The mention of Szafarnia, a real place in Poland, indicates that the singer has ventured out into the countryside. Despite not feeling well, they express a desire to pursue their passion for music, represented by the line "Dominic thinks I should stick to the paper and the ivory." The paper refers to the sheet music, and the ivory represents the piano keys, indicating that the singer is a pianist.
Throughout the lyrics, the singer's longing for their mother's presence and their struggle with their health is evident. They consume six cups of coffee a day, which could suggest a dependency on caffeine or an attempt to cope with their physical ailments. Despite their longing to see their mother, there is a conflict between their desire to be reunited and their wish to remain where they are, possibly referring to their dedication to their artistic pursuits.
In the final part of the lyrics, the singer introduces a girl named Konstancja, who possesses a captivating singing voice. While the singer admires her talent, they also feel a sense of inferiority and believe that she will never notice their existence. The mention of "holes in her favorite brown pullover sleeves" adds a touch of vulnerability to Konstancja's character, suggesting that even seemingly flawless individuals have their own imperfections.
Overall, the lyrics of "Nocturne" depict a protagonist who is physically and emotionally strained, grappling with their artistic aspirations, longing for familial connection, and harboring unrequited feelings for someone they believe is out of their reach.
Line by Line Meaning
My books lie unopened
I haven't had the time or energy to read my books.
We’ve barely left a word unspoken
We have been so open and honest in our conversations.
Exploring the grounds
We have been exploring the different aspects and depths of our relationship.
Of this big old house
Within the depths of our long-standing relationship.
Mother, don’t you worry I’m in good company
Mother, be reassured that I am surrounded by trustworthy and supportive individuals.
There’s news from Szafarnia
I have received updates from Szafarnia.
Today we rode out to the country
Today we ventured out into the countryside.
I’m not so good
I am not feeling well.
Dominic thinks I should
Dominic believes that I should.
Stick to the paper and the ivory
Continue to focus on writing music and playing the piano.
But my health ain’t so great
However, my health is not in a good condition.
Six cups of coffee each day
I consume six cups of coffee daily.
And I long to see you
I have a deep desire to see you.
But how I wish I could stay
Unfortunately, I am unable to prolong my visit or stay.
There’s a girl
There is a girl.
Called Konstancja
Her name is Konstancja.
She sings like a siren of titan
Her singing voice is incredibly captivating and mesmerizing.
But my heart must insist
However, my heart strongly insists.
She won’t know I exist
She is not aware of my existence or presence.
There’s holes in her favorite brown pullover sleeves
There are visible holes in the sleeves of her favorite brown pullover.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jetter3, Frederic Chopin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@WeAreTheInsurgents
ONLY REAL 1830'S KIDS WILL REMEMBER THIS
@magaalvaradovillegas2825
Hahaha
@byrnejobie
+WeAreTheInsurgents lmao
@axwburner
Or people who listen to muse
@lackadaisicaldreamer
+WeAreTheInsurgents best comment ever
@gloganh
+WeAreTheInsurgents True Story !
@supdog5923
i remember when this song first came out i was a youngster, 23 years old with nothing on my mind except tuberculosis and now i'm 216 ouh how time flies when you are depressed
@icupo720
jolly me! i was too young to remember. my late father always used to play this
@berg_op6739
@@icupo720howd you get the emojis
@icupo720
@@berg_op6739 wrote it on pc. So desktop version on mobile i think