Frederic Chopin (1810-1849)

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Frederic Chopin (1810-1849)

• Polish pianist and composer
• Relationship with novelist George Sand
  (Aurore Dudevant)
• Personal Style
• Preferred salon performances
• Short pieces that would often evoke either a
  mood or a dance
• Polish dance forms (based on the meter and dance
  feel, not melodies)
• Mood music nocturnes, preludes, etudes, etc.
• Characterized by either grace and elegance, or
  explosions of virtuosity

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Franz Liszt (1811-1886)

• Hungarian pianist and composer
• Teens- moved to Paris to perform
• Age 19 witnessed Paganini and became a recluse
• Worked on technique to become the Paganini of
  the piano
• A new type of virtuoso overwhelming talent,
  wowed audiences, one of the first musical sex
  symbols
• My 10 fingers have the power to reproduce
  harmonies created by 100 performers
• His compositions were intense, loud, thick, and
  often considered vulgar

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Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)

• Led Bach revival
• St. Matthews Passion
• Violin Concerto
• One of the most commonly performed
• Reversed and altered double exposition
• Cadenza-like passages through-out