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Frederic ChopinBorn, March 1, 1810Died, October 17, 1849
He was one of the finest pianists in history but honored people with very few concerts in his lifetime, and was mainly a cafe pianist. Frederic Chopin was a short man with hazel eyes, a pronounced nose, and an admirable demeanor; he was frail, and at his best, his playing never reverberated or resonated much...toward the end of his life, it seemed to be just a whisper. He learned early on that he shouldn't play in big theaters, and he played his last public appearance on April 26, 1835 at the age of just 26; the rest of his life was spent playing semiprivate recitals before scrupulously chosen audiences. Chopin and Liszt played four-hands on the piano, and there might have been Berlioz Meyerbeer, Eugene Sue, Delacroix, Heine, and George Sand with Ary Scheffer sketching while they played.
Chopin fit in with the colorful crowd of Paris in the 1830's and 40's quite well. He did not have warm friendships, but he did know most everybody, and was well-liked and revered. He was a known genius, and Paris was known for being able to judge genius; it was the academic and creative mecca of the world. The bourgeoisie had come to power, although the lower classes had little more than ever, it was a national awakening and abundance that materialized in a maturing of the arts. Although Chopin was born in Zelazowa Wola, Poland, he came to Paris in 1831 and stayed there the rest of his life...albeit a short one, it was well-developed and he is well-remembered. Chopin's father was an emigre from France, his mother from Poland. His musical talent was seen as he was a good pianist at the age of six; his teacher taught him on the music of Bach. At eight years of age, his first composition, a polonaise was printed. Then from 1826-28 he studied with Joseph Elsner, who realized how special Chopin was, and treated him thus. He wanted Chopin to compose symphonies, sonatas, and a Polish national opera...but didn't force Chopin's way of working, and allowed him to develop naturally which was his greatest contribution to the master. He was not only a genius on the piano, but also a creative genius...one of the most genuine ones of the era! Chopin's ideas had radical qualities...an altogether new kind of piano playing! It is said that he came to full maturity earlier than most composers, and the works seemed to come freely. His father wrote of his composing, "You know, that the mechanics of piano playing occupied little of your time, and that your mind was busier than your fingers. If others have spent whole days working at the keyboard, you rarely spent an hour playing other men's music." Chopin was a artisan with an effortless technique, who wrote for the instrument he has such an affinity for. 
Chopin began to move in the most aristocratic of circles, and just the fact that through his Polish friends he became acquainted with the Rothschilds, he got a name; he soon had more students than he could easily teach, with titles such as Princess and Countess. The course of his life was in motion until he met George Sand. He continued to travel some, and improved his friendship with Mendelssohn, and also met Schumann, who adored him. He remained in Paris for the most part, and continued making notable acquaintances, composing, fraternizing, and wrote, "I have found my way into the very best society, I have my place among ambassadors, princes, ministers. I don't know by what miracle it has come about, for I have not pushed myself forward. But today all that sort of thing is indispensable to me: those circles are supposed to be the fountain-head of taste...I have five lessons to give today. You will imagine I am making a fortune-but my cabriolet and white gloves cost more than that, and without them I should not have bon ton..." Chopin was able to get 30 francs a lesson, a huge amount in those days; he lived in posh extravagance, and had his share of love affairs. He became weak from tuberculosis and not some other reason; he was neither effeminate nor chaste as some might have indicated, though he kept his affairs private.
Liszt introduced Chopin to George Sand when he was twenty-six and she was thirty-two; she was a famous writer, just as infamous for her autonomy and contempt for correctness. Her true name was Aurore Dudevand, but she took on a pen name for her novels "Indiana" and "Lelia", both of which brought much attention for their strikes on purity/chastity, especially marriage. She was rather short and chubby and very bright; she was often seen in public, and often would be wearing men's clothing and smoking a cigar! She had been mistress to Jules Sandeau, Prosper Merimee, Alfred deMusset, Michel de Bourges, Pietro Pagello and Franz Liszt, was well experienced! She had two children, Maurice and Solange, by her husband Casimir Dudevant from whom she was separated in 1836. At first, Chopin was disgusted by George Sand, but gradually the love grew, and by 1838 they were living together and in 1838-39 they spent the winter in Majorca. The winter was a disaster, and with the constant rain that fell, Chopin's lungs had a hard time because of the TB, and he nearly died; George had to nurse him back to health. Although Chopin was so ill, he still did some very important work on Majorca, and finished twenty-four preludes; one of them, the Raindrop, is a musical interpretation of rain falling endlessly on the villa where they were staying. Chopin and Sand's relationship lasted until 1847, during which time Chopin wrote his greatest music. Sand did all she could for him, and they were content. The breakup came when the coddled and defiant children of Sand reared up; a fight ensued, and Sand and Chopin took different sides, becoming permanently estranged. By 1848 he was so weak, he had to be carried to his bedroom and dressed by his valet. His friend and student, a very wealthy Lady Jane Stirling, suggested he visit England (this at the time of the Revolution which had broken out, and all his students had fled, so he had basically no means of support); he agreed, and played for the best society, noted the ways of the people, and disliked all of it! His letters describe a man incensed past tolerance. Back in Paris, he did nearly nothing, awaiting the end. He was depressed, saying, "I have not yet begun to play, and I cannot compose. God knows what sort of fodder I shall have to live on before long." Learning of his situation, he received an anonymous gift of 25,000 francs (from Miss Stirling and her sister). It was George Sand's daughter Solange, the one with whom Chopin had sided during the altercation, who was at his side when he died on the morning of October 17, 1849. Also present was Louise and Princess Marcelline Czartoryska, a friend of the family. He was a pianist who had developed a technique which overtook the entire second half of the nineteenth century, and basically remained unchanged until Debussy and Prokoviev. His style is memorable, and is still being studied and revered today!
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