As a pianist Frederic Chopin had no equal when it came to composing music for the pianoforte. His childhood was ripe with potential as he performed for both the royalty and the riff-raff of cities across Europe. In 1831, at the age of twenty-two, Chopin moved to Paris and began to rub elbows with such notable musicians as Schumann, Rossini, and Franz Liszt. Along the way he performed in Vienna, Munich, Salzburg and many others. While his reputation preceded him in many places it did not initially follow him through the gates of Paris.
At first, Frederic Chopin had difficulty finding an audience in Paris. He had great difficulty selling his compositions initially, and was rarely asked to perform in public. These hard times drove Chopin to consider moving to America. Just before he was to sail to America his luck began to change for the better. At the invitation of a friend, Chopin performed for a wealthy baron. His performance was well received and soon Chopin began to be asked to take students as well as perform for more prestigious clientèle.
It was at this time in his life that Chopin became close friends with Franz Liszt. As a contemporary of Chopin, Liszt acknowledged Frederic's abilities on many occasions. Chopin's composition Allgemeine Musikalische Zeitung won rave reviews from the famous pianist Robert Schumann. By the time of Chopin's twenty-sixth birthday Chopin had truly arrived and been accepted as a prominent composer and a master of the pianoforte.
Only a few years later in 1849 Chopin would fall ill to a disease that would ultimately claim his life. His attempts to recuperate on an island in the Mediterranean ultimately failed as he passed away in his sister's arms to the soft strains of a psalm sung by a close friend. His funeral in Paris was attended by the greatest musicians of the time as his own Funeral March, perhaps one of Chopin's most famous compositions, was performed in his honor. Today, many generations later, the legacy of Frederic Chopin lives on as one of the greatest pianists in history.
Chad Criswell - Chad Criswell is a professional educator and freelance technology writer for numerous online and print publications throughout the United ...
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