Chopin settled in Paris, France, for most of his career, but maintained strong Polish patriotism, associating with refugees and grieving for his country under Russian domination.
Composition History
Chopin began composing waltzes in Warsaw in 1827, having already adapted Polish dances like the Mazurka and Polonaise, and continued writing them until the year before his death.
Composition History
Julian Fontana, a contemporary musician and friend of Chopin, was responsible for publishing many of Chopin's works after his death, including those numbered from Opus 66 to Opus 77.
Composition History
Chopin's dislike of writing down his music complicated the work of later editors, leading to discrepancies between opus numbers and actual composition dates for his Waltzes.
Composer Biography
Fryderyk Chopin, born near Warsaw in 1810, was the son of Nicolas Chopin, a French emigre who became a Polish patriot.
Composer's Artistic Vision
As a composer, Chopin was innovative, developing an idiosyncratic and poetic piano style with an infinite range of delicate nuances, influenced by Italian opera and using an adventurous harmonic language.
Compositional Technique
Chopin's waltzes, though based on a German country-dance, offer variety in harmony, melody, speed, and mood, as they were not intended for ballroom dancing.
