Assignment #2- Chopin 1357839 PDF

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Music Appreciation 1306 Assignment 3 Due: November 14, 2012 Name: Giovanni Catanzaro 1357839

Lectures on Chopin by Andras Schif In order to complete assignment 3 you need to go to youtube and type Lectures on Chopin by Andras Schif. The lectures are divided into 6 videos, you must watch all 6 videos to answer all the questions in the assignment. 1. Chopin is placed among the greatest composers, why and what is unique about him? He was one of the greatest composers of all time because what was so unique about him was the piano was his way and means of his expression. He was happy to stay with the piano instead of feeling restricted by it. He revolutionized and changed the concept and approach to the piano. 2. Chopin was primarily influenced by which composers? Chopin was mainly influenced by the Bohemian musician named 3. What new technique did he invent? He invented new fingerings such as using the thumb on the left keys. He enabled it to be able to move with more freedom along the keys. It was called Rubato. 4. What is the source of inspiration for his mazurkas and polonaises? The source of his inspiration for his mazurkas and polonaises is his home country of Poland. He was considered a nationalistic composer. 5. When and why was the Revolutionary Etude written? It was written in 1831. It was written at the time when the final Poland revolution had been crushed against Russian resistance. In this piece, it contains the saddest music that Chopin has every written. He writes in his journal that he is scared that his whole family has been executed, murdered, raped and so on. He also questions God as to whether he is Russian as well after this tragic defeat of the Polish. 6. Chopin famous Adieux Waltz was dedicated to whom?

The waltz was originally written as a farewell piece to Maria Wodzińska, to whom Chopin was once engaged.

7. According to Chopin, what did virtuoso mean? According to Chopin, he is a virtuoso pianist. He had excelling abilities with the piano. 8. How was Chopin perceived by his contemporaries? He was very well respected by most composers. At one point, he received a card saying that a piece was written in dedication to him. He kept it on his piano and said that he never even considered it music. 9. When and where did he compose most of his famous preludes?

The completion of the Preludes formed one of the most harrowing episodes in the composer's short life. When Chopin and his companion, the novelist George Sand, first got to Majorca he was ecstatic. They were predominately completed in the middle of his short life. 10. To which composer were his preludes dedicated to? His preludes are dedicated to Johan Sebastian Bach. His favorite composer. 11. In which way are the preludes diferent and unique? They are diferent and unique because he had flocculating moods that go all over the place in his preludes that you do not normally see in other preludes. 12. What personal event took place that changed his life and afected his performance? When he lost a city that was dear to him. He could not produce as much as he used to. He missed it and he could not perform the way he wanted to anymore. 13. What happened in 1848 that also impacted his life? The next waves of revolutions came. There were no more pupils to teach. Many of them fled Paris. He then accepted an invitation from James Sterling to go to Britain. It was not a good experience. It hurt him health wise. He spent a few months and had a few concerts. Good reviews from critics but not too many. He even played for Queen Victoria once. She left a remark on Chopin saying “some pianist” played. It is rather sad. 14. What was Chopin’s final work? Chopin played in a side room. They were really listening to what he was saying or playing in his final concert. He did not want to stay in England. He was not happy there. He wanted to go back to Paris where his French and Polish friends were. He was unable to provide the strength, inspiration or desire to compose and perform. He was bedridden in 1849. He was spitting blood and coughing non-stop. He was sufering in agony....