Music 1010

Music 1010SEMESTER PRESENTATION BY CHARIS SMITH

Frederic Chopin Romantic-Era Composer and Pianist

The Life of Frederic ChopinEarly Life Born on March 1, 1810 in Zelazowa Wola, Poland Studied piano with Wojciech Zwyny in Warsaw, as a child Age Six: he could play the piano and compose songs Age Eight: Gave first piano concert and outgrew abilities of his piano teacher 1826: Chopin had composed many pieces that caused hos name to be well

known 1829: Parents sent him to Vienna for a broader musical experience

The Life of Frederic ChopinEarly Adulthood

1832: Settled in Paris, center of European culture and Romanticism

His music became highly regarded among elite Parisian performers

Became friends with other artists such as, Franz Liszt and Hector Berlioz

Focused on teaching, composing, and private performances

The Life of Frederic ChopinAdult Years 1835: Engagement to Maria Wodinski 1837: Engagement broken off by

Wodinski family 1838: Began relationship with George

Sand 1839: Diagnosed with Tuberculosis,

relationship grew turbulent, music became more rich and complex.

The Life of Frederic ChopinFinal Years 1847: Relationship between Chopin and Sand Ends 1848: Began teaching lessons and giving private

performances 1848: Declining health, Sister moves in with him October 17, 1849: Dies at age 38

Works20 Nocturnes25 Preludes17 Waltzes15 Polonaise58 Mazurkas27 Etudes

AccomplishmentsCredited with originating the modern piano

styleReinvented a form, the ScherzoInvented the BalladeInvented the SonataContributed more significant works to

piano’s repertoire than any other person in history

Music History1.Ballade No. 1 in G Minor2.Mazurka in B-Flat Minor

Music HistoryBallade No. 1 in G Minor

Ballade: Associated with French poetry, as a music formSometimes called Chopin’s greatest musical compositionFirst version written in 1831, during early years in ViennaFinal version not finished until 1835 or 1836Reflection of Chopin's loneliness and longing for familyInspired by the poem, Konrad WallerodDifferent structure than other ballads

Music HistoryMazurka in B-Flat Minor, Op. 24, No. 4 Mazurka originated in Mazovia Province of Northern PolandLively folk danceIn triple time with syncopated first beatOne of Chopin's 69 Mazurkas published in 1835Long with clearly defined sectionsIn triple meter

Listening GuidesBallade No. 1 in G Minor

i. 0:00- The piece begins with introductionii. 0:11- ascending melodyiii. 0:24- Introduction to Theme A. Calm mood.

Monophonic texture. iv. 0:36- Dynamics of music is very soft. Mood

is soft. Texture is monophonic.v. 0:51- Changes to Homophobic texture.

Mood is calm.

Listening Guidesvi. 1:00- Theme B Begins. The melody is smooth with calm mood. Homophonic texture. vii. 1:30- The Dynamics change from soft to loud viii. 2:00-The texture is homophonic. Mood is calm. ix. 2:25- A descending melody is repeated several times. The tempo speeds up.

Ballade No. 1 in G Minor (cont.)

Listening GuidesBallade No. 1 in G Minor (cont.)

x. 2:37- The dynamics change from soft to loud. The tempo becomes very fast. The dynamics become loud. The mood feels angry and chaotic. xi. 2:58- The tempo becomes slow. The texture is homophonic. The mood is sad or confused. xii. 3:07- Ascending melody. The tempo is moderate. The mood is calm. The texture is Homophonic. xiii. 3:30- The mood is calm. The tempo is very slow.

Listening GuidesBallade No. 1 in G Minor (cont.)

xiv. 3:58- The tempo quickens. The dynamics are soft. The mood is calm. There is a wide melodic range. xv. 4:15- Theme A repeats. xvi. 4:35- Dynamics are louder than softer. The tempo is fast. The texture is homophonic. xvii. 5:00- The melody repeats itself several times. The texture is homophonic. The tempo is fast. The dynamics are loud.

Listening GuidesBallade No. 1 in G Minor (cont.)

xviii. 5:17- Series of descending scales. xix. 5:23- The melody is a long descending scale. xx. 5:40- The tempo is very fast. The mood is angry and hectic. The dynamics are more soft than loud. xxi. 5:55- The dynamics change from moderate to loud. The tempo is very fast. The texture is homophonic. xxii. 6:15- Theme B is re-introduced. The tempo slows.

Listening GuidesBallade No. 1 in G Minor (cont.)

xxiii. 6:36- The melody has a wide range.

xxiv. 6:45- The mood changes to clam. The Tempo becomes very slow. The dynamics change to soft.

xxv. 7:23- The dynamics are soft. The texture is homophonic. The tempo is slow. The mood is calm.

xxvi. 7:40- The melody repeats itself several times. The texture is homophobic.

Listening GuidesBallade No. 1 in G Minor (cont.)

xxvii. 7:58-The tempo increases to very fast. The dynamics become very loud. The mood is angry or upset. The texture is homophonic. xxviii. 8:22- There is a wide melodic range. The tempo is fast. The dynamics are loud. The texture is homophonic. xxix. 8:30- The melody is an ascending scale. xxx. 8:33- There is a long, melodic descending scale. There is a wide melodic range. The tempo is moderate

Listening GuidesBallade No. 1 in G Minor (cont.)

xxxi. 8:43- The mood changes to calm. The texture is homophonic. The tempo is very eslow. The dynamics are very soft. xxxii. 8:57- The tempo is very slow. The texture is homophonic. xxxiii. 9:14- The piece ends. The texture is monophonic. The tempo is very slow.

Listening GuidesMazurkas in B-Flat Minor, Op. 24, No. 4

i. 0:00- Piece Begins. ii. 0:01- Introduction. The melody decreases chromatically. The texture is monophonic. iii. 0:09- The texture shifts to homophonic. The tempo is slow. The mood is calm. iv. 0:14- The harmony shifts from minor to major. The mood remains calm. The dynamics are moderate, but more soft than loud.

Listening Guidesv. 0:18- The harmony shifts back to minor. The tempo speeds up and becomes quite fast. vi. 0:30- The tempo slows. The texture is homophonic. Moderate triple meter. vii. 0:40- The tempo speeds up. The mood becomes more lively/happy. viii. 0:55- There is a descending melodic scale along with the tempo slowing. The dynamics are more soft than loud. The texture is homophonic. ix. 1:22- The harmony shifts from minor to major. The texture is homophonic. The tempo becomes quick. The mood is calm.

Mazurkas in B-Flat Minor, Op. 24, No. 4 (cont.)

Listening GuidesMazurkas in B-Flat Minor, Op. 24, No. 4 (cont.)

x. 1:58- There is a wide melodic range. The mood is lively/happy. The texture is homophonic. The dynamics is loud. xi. 2:05- The tempo slows drastically. xii. 2:10- The texture is monophonic. The tempo is very slow. The mood is calm. Very soft dynamics. xiii. 2:34- The dynamics shifts from soft to loud. The tempo shifts from slow to fast. This pattern repeats itself several times. xiv. 3:00- The texture is homophonic. The tempo is moderate. The dynamics repeatedly shifts from soft to loud several times.

Listening GuidesMazurkas in B-Flat Minor, Op. 24, No. 4 (cont.)

xv. 3:22- The dynamics grows louder. The texture is homophonic. xvi. 3:30- The tempo rotates from slow to fast and repeats the pattern several times. The dynamics shift from soft to loud repeats the pattern several times. xvii. 3:53- The harmony shifts to minor from major. The mood is lively/happy. xviii. 4:00- Moderate triple meter with accents on the 3rd beat.

Listening GuidesMazurkas in B-Flat Minor, Op. 24, No. 4 (cont.)

xix. 4:16- The tempo becomes very slow. The texture is homophonic. The mood is calm and almost sad.

xx. 4:40- The tempo is very slow. The Dynamics are soft.

xxi. 5:00- Homophonic texture. The tempo slows down greatly.

xxii. 5:06- The piece ends.

Works Cited 

1. Baker, Theodore.  The Concise Baker’s Biographical Dictionary of Musicians. 8th edition. New York: Schirmer Books, 1994.

2. Libbey, Ted. "The Life and Music Of Frederic Chopin". NPR Music, 2 March 2010. http://www.npr.org.

3. "Frédéric Chopin." 2014. The Biography Channel website. Feb 23 2014. htp://www.biography.com/people/frédéric-chopin.