Chopin: Shy Genius Frederic Chopin, an Eighteenth

Chopin: Shy Genius Frederic Chopin, an eighteenth century composer, is remembered as one of the greatest of the romantic composers because of his style. He was a musical genius at an early age and he listened to what he felt about music rather than what the world tried to tell him about music. This might have been difficult but it made him stand out as a composer and, more importantly, it made his music stand out. Because he catered to no particular audience, his work appeals to many.

The piano inspired Chopin and he took it upon himself to explore its diverse capabilities. The result is a distinct style that still speaks to diverse groups of listeners even now. Chopin was a rugged individual. Alan Walker notes that Chopin was mostly self-taught and it is his relationship with the piano that was incredible. He was playing at the age of six and by the time he was 20, he was "fully formed" as a pianist.

Walker maintains that Chopin's Twelve Etudes were "mostly composed to give himself new problems to solve" (Walker 21). He explored its "sonorities, translating into its idiomatic language gestures culled from symphonic and operatic literature as well as from popular and folkloristic materials" (Samson).

Chopin was different from his contemporaries with his "complete lack of interest in technique as an end in itself" (20) and the "fashionable" (Samson) sources of inspiration in the nineteenth century "held little attraction for him, and if his music reflects, in its sheer intensity of feeling, the restless, yearning spirit of the age, it does so without resort to cheap emotional effects or extravagant rhetoric and certainly without the aid of a programme" (Samson).

He belonged to no school and subscribed to no dogma and, because of this, he "lay siege to the instrument in his own way, by composing a series of compositions that broke fresh ground, which are completely atypical of the piano, and which have dominated the repertory ever since" (21). Individuality was a major component of Chopin's existence and it shaped his style in several ways. Chopin was not fond of performing in public and did not perform concerts for large crowds very often.

This made him seem different but it also made him more popular, as everyone wanted to hear him play. Those who did hear him perform were never disappointed. Chopin known for his "lyrical, flowing quality, the remarkable delicacy of his touch, and the subtlety of his dynamic shading and pedaling" (Samson). According to Willard Palmer, Chopin made significant contributions to music with the art of pedaling. He marked his scores to indicate the application and release of the pedal and, most commonly, he used "rhythmic" (Palmer 12) pedaling.

The markings for pedaling is so "meticulous" (12) that there is "no doubt about what he intended" (12). In other areas, the Italian opera shaped Chopin's compositions with his nocturnes, as seen with their melodic arcs, rhythmic structures, and the distinct vocal embellishments. Sources of inspiration were numerous and it is worth noting that Chopin became a source of inspiration for many of his contemporaries. His ability presented him with the opportunity to teach music for more than a decade.

This worked out well for the pianist who disliked performing in front of hundreds of people. Not surprising, Chopin taught his students to touch the keys beautifully. Wanting his pupils to learn this form of expression demonstrates how Chopin's differences from the others of his day made him a quiet genius. Chopin might not have enjoyed playing for the public but it cannot be disputed that whatever the size of the group for which he performed, there was always a great appreciation.

His performances often inspired those in attendance, leaving them often taken aback by his talent. His work is said to be like "how the angels must have sung a Bethlehem" (Zaleski qtd. In Lopinski 19). Franz Liszt, Felix Mendelssohn, and Sigismond Thalberg attended his salon performances, which were Chopin's favorite way to perform for the public. Large concerts left him feeling uncomfortable and intimidated by the crowd. Alan Walker claims that Chopin also influenced Scriabin, Debussey, and Prokofiev, who all "proclaimed a debt to him" (Walker 24).

Debussey dedicated his Twelve Studies to Chopin, an act that speaks for itself. Prokofiev was so inspired by Chopin's music that he was nicknamed the "Russian Chopin" (26). The beauty about Chopin's works is how they sound so simple yet they are very demanding technically. They sound light but they emphasize a great depth. Chopin chose not to compose.