Jim Samson interweaves biographical and musical commentary to produce a well-rounded portrait of Chopin the man and the musician. Incorporating the most recent research, this volume succeeds in presenting it without recourse to unduly complex technical language. Samson addresses such questions as pedagogy, musical influences, and pianistic idiom. He examines the composer's mature musical style, considers his unique approach to the genres of nineteenth-century piano music, and investigates the nature of his compositional process as revealed through manuscripts and early printed scores. In reading the book we begin to understand why this frail and fastidious musician from Warsaw, whose music is so immensely refined and innovatory, has captured the imagination of generations of music lovers the world over.

Table of Contents

Preface; 1. In his homeland; 2. 'A virtuoso in his own right' - Pedagogy and other influences; 3. New frontiers; 4. 'A rebirth of pianistic art' - Chopin's piano writing; 5. The best society; 6. 'A new world for myself' - issues in musical style; 7. Years of refuge; 8. 'The perfection of art...' - Chopin's genres; 9. Twilight; 10. 'Simplicity itself' - Compositional process: sketches, fair copies, editions; 11. Images of Chopin; APPENDICES; A Calendar; B List of Works; C Personalia; D Select bibliography; Index

Reviews

Jim Samson's engaging biography is interwoven--in the best tradition of the invaluable Master Musicians series ... with chapters devoted to a comprehensive chronological survey of the music, plus a list of works, a calendar of the composer's life and times ... vividly written biography. The Musical Times