Live data from Hacker News

200 years after his birth, Chopin remains a key composer

post-gazette.com

1–10 of 22 posts

Re: 200 years after his birth, Chopin remains a key composer

#2
There are a few composers that truly sing to me. J.S.Bach (with a few exceptions) is one, some of Beethoven's work, especially his later string quartets, and sometimes Mozart, because even though he sometimes seems a bit fluffy, sometimes that's what I want.

But I can get lost in Chopin, again and again.

There are others that occasionally hit the mark. Some Janacek, some Bartok, and a surprising amount of Joplin (which is surprisingly sophisticated).

But I always return to Bach and Chopin.

Re: 200 years after his birth, Chopin remains a key composer

#6
the elasticity that Chopin allowed, and the fact that he never played a piece the same way twice (sometimes performing the polar opposite dynamics), have led to a tradition of performance in which his entire works are interpreted with Romantic freedom.

I find that this, plus the fact that many of his typical works are so short, makes Chopin the quintessential YouTube composer.

Re: 200 years after his birth, Chopin remains a key composer

#8
post #5
post #3

Chopin is the best French composer.

He was Polish, despite his parisian history, hence his famous mazurkas.

To be clear, leaving aside his 'passport' status, he had a French father and a Polish mother. And it's interesting that he made no attempt to ever return to Poland after he'd arrived in Paris as a very young man. I think the French and Polish can make more or less equivalent claims on him.

Re: 200 years after his birth, Chopin remains a key composer

#9
post #5
post #3

Chopin is the best French composer.

He was Polish, despite his parisian history, hence his famous mazurkas.

It was a joke (I think); like saying "Mozart was the greatest Italian Opera composer." (Also true, imho).
Post reply on HN