The Chopin mystique:

A tribute to the great Polish composer Fryderyck Chopin

KISHORE CHATTERJEE

The name of the great Polish composer Fryderyck Chopin (1810-1849) will be heard repeatedly throughout the world this year, for Chopin celebrates his 200th birthday. He composed exclusively for the piano with a few exceptions,

a cello sonata and three works for piano and orchestra. At the time when Chopin grew up, the piano was the most popular instrument.

There were many virtuosos for the piano such as Thalberg and Alkan. And of course Liszt, whose name is often paired with Chopin. But Liszt was not a miniaturist like Chopin. Although Chopin did not write symphonies, his piano compositions convey the feeling of what William Blake called “eternity in a grain of sand.”

Chopin grew up in a Poland that had severe tensions with Russia. Though he died of tuberculosis at a very early age, he was not sickly as a child and took part in physical activity. He was in a way a child prodigy. At 19, he composed three works for piano and orchestra, two piano concertos and one rondo for piano and orchestra and a piano and orchestra variation of one of Mozart’s songs from the opera, ‘Don Giovanni,’ which made the composer Robert Schumann write in his music magazine, “Hats Off Gentlemen, a genius”.

When Chopin turned 20, Poland became too dangerous for Polish patriots like him and so he left for Paris. He lived in exile throughout his life and was never to return to his beloved Poland. As his farewell gift, his sister gave him some Polish earth in an urn. Chopin kept this with him throughout his life and after his death; this Polish earth was sprinkled on his grave. At his death, he also said that his heart should be cut off from his body and taken to Poland for burial. The request was kept.

His reputation has not dimmed in any way in these 200 years. From the moment he arrived in Paris, through his tuitions and his concerts he communicated the beauty of his music.

That beauty, elegance and poetry continue to haunt music lovers and pianists today. In this, he is in the same bracket as Beethoven and Mozart.

Even the great Bach was forgotten and had to be revived. Bach, in fact, was Chopin’s favourite and he modelled himself on the composer.

The other composer whose melodic richness he emulated was Vincenzo Bellini, the opera composer who was Chopin’s friend. He introduced Chopin to Bel Canto or sweet song method of opera. That is why Chopin’s music always sings, be they preludes, nocturnes, or Mazurkas.

Captivated

The Chopin mystique was born the moment the young Pole stepped into Parisian society. He captivated all with his charm, elegance, wit and genius. His music was simply irresistible to the Parisian high society.

The ladies fought with each other for just one word with Chopin and many of them became his pupil. Above all Chopin bowled over the most famous woman in Paris, George Sand, the novelist. She had just divorced her husband having obtained from him a huge country house, Solange. Sand took Chopin there and created the ideal atmosphere for him to compose. Sand mothered Chopin, but her son did not take to the composer and ultimately created an atmosphere that forced Chopin and Sand to separate.

The composer also collected around him a circle of top intellectuals and artists of that era such as artist Delacroix, whose portrait of Chopin is very famous, Victor Hugo, Berlioz, Liszt, the magical violinist Paganini and the famous cellist Franchomme.

Essence of romance

Chopin’s music is forever fresh and relevant. Its Bel Canto melodic content is bewitching. The nocturnes, a name Chopin borrowed from the Irish composer John Field, are the distilled essence of romance like walking through a scented garden at night.

His patriotic Polanaises are great songs etched into the keyboard; the Mazurkas are based on Polish folk music and are haunting.

Some pianists believe that the Etudes are unplayable but they are studies of great beauty and can be played only by the best pianists.

The Preludes are Chopin’s homage to Bach and the waltzes are dances of the mind. And what can one say to the tender and exquisite Berceuse and Barcarolle. They are two Chopin gems that require a tender touch.

But the ultimate mystery was Chopin himself. Sometimes it bewilders us to think that he could compose such tender and happy music in spite of being so ill.

He, like the poet John Keats, suffered from the disease of that age - consumption. Both went to Italy, hoping for a cure.

Chopin’s Italian visit was planned and executed by George Sand. They lived in a monastery high up on the hills and Sand achieved the impossible by taking a piano up there. Chopin composed some of his nocturnes there but his health deteriorated.

His final tour to England had to be made alone, for, by then, Sand and Chopin were not on speaking terms.

Chopin expected a lot from the English tour, but it did not materialise. He wanted the royalty to invite him for a concert but they ignored him. He returned heartbroken.

Chopin’s funeral was a grand affair in Paris. It was attended by all the artistes, musicians and royalty. Only one person was missing, George Sand, who had played such a crucial role in Chopin’s life in Paris.

His heart was cut out and taken to Poland. It is this heart that Chopin put in all his compositions.

To use an expression of Beethoven, “It comes from the heart and goes straight to the heart.”
Courtesy: The Hindu