Book Description

Customer Reviews (4)

Researching Chopin
Enjoyed reading his letters as it gave an insight to the man Chopin was.

If you REALLY want to get to know Chopin read his letters!
These letters make wonderful reading. Chopin's writing style is direct, at times humorous, and gives a great insight in his daily life, from his very young year till just before his death in 1849.
In these letters he does not much write about his art (he hardly did that anyway: most of his thoughts on music are written down by his friend Eugene Delacroix in his journal, based on their conversations).
These letters cover a wide variety of subjects: holiday-planning, chit-chat,long letters to his sister Ludwika, letters to his lover George Sand and her children, rude business letters (no romantic dreamer here!),sad letters, passionate letters of a young Chopin,etc.
If you want to get to know the person Chopin this is a must-read.

Deeply poignant
Reading the early passages in Chopin's letters, one is almost heartbroken by the youth, the enthusiasm, the childlike good humor evident therein.Chopin at 17 was a wide-eyed kid from Warsaw with unparalleled musicaltalent and his whole life in front of him, the world apparently his oyster. To read his letters in subsequent years -- after the Russian invasion ofPoland that stranded him in Paris; the abortive betrothal to MariaWodzinska; the complex and finally tragic relationship with George Sand --is to watch a man reach adulthood step by step.Though they contain onlysmall, tantalizing glimpses of Chopin's opinions on music, the letters makefor an effective counterpoint to his immortal compositions.The man whowrote the great Ballades and Scherzi was just a man like any other: he wasannoyed at lazy servants, he unconsciously exploited his friends, he wantedto move in the circles of great aristocrats, he had provincial andprejudiced opinions.The lesson is banal, but true, and vividly made clearin these letters.

a fascinating book
Reading Chopin's letters is a unique privilege we have today. No lover of Chopin should be without this book. ... Read more

Amazon.com
Frederic Chopin was in many ways a contradictory figure: a passionately patriotic Pole, he lefthis country for good at the age of 21; frail and almost sexless, he was famous for a seven-year love affairwith the novelist George Sand; shy,lonely, and retiring, he was inevitably surrounded by friends and admirers. In Chopin in Paris,biographer Tad Szulc has produced a dishy account of Chopin's most creative and tempestuous period, his18-year sojourn in France. It's also a portrait of a unique time, when musical and artistic luminaries such asChopin, Balzac, Hugo, Liszt, Berlioz, Delacroix, and Schumann ran in the same heady Parisian circles.

What it's not is a detailed study of Chopin's music. The author of critically praised books aboutFidel Castro and Pope John Paul II, Szulc sets out in search of Chopin the man, "the humandimension" he finds missing in other, more musically oriented biographies. What he finds is notalways attractive; tortured through much of his life by physical and psychological illness, Chopin emergesas an often fussy, distant, manipulative man, as well as something of a snob. It's a tribute to his genius as acomposer, Szulc writes, that he was befriended by some of the greatest minds of his age, including thelarger-than-life figure of George Sand: "Fryderyk Chopin gave the world a treasure in music. Theworld gave Chopin a treasure in human beings." Commendably, Szulc refrains from editorializingabout the composer's life and habits, in particular Chopin's break with Sand. Instead, he allows his wealthof primary sources--including diaries, memoirs, letters, and Chopin's own brief journal--to speak forthemselves. Book Description

Chopin in Paris introduces the most important musical and literary figures of Fryderyk Chopin's day in a glittering story of the Romantic era. During Chopin's eighteen years in Paris, lasting nearly half his short life, he shone at the center of the immensely talented artists who were defining their time -- Hugo, Balzac, Stendhal, Delacroix, Liszt, Berlioz, and, of course, George Sand, a rebel feminist writer who became Chopin's lover and protector.

Tad Szulc, the author of Fidel and Pope John Paul II, approaches his subject with imagination and insight, drawing extensively on diaries, memoirs, correspondence, and the composer's own journal, portions of which appear here for the first time in English. He uses contemporary sources to chronicle Chopin's meteoric rise in his native Poland, an ascent that had brought him to play before the reigning Russian grand duke at the age of eight. He left his homeland when he was eighteen, just before Warsaw's patriotic uprising was crushed by the tsar's armies.

Carrying the memories of Poland and its folk music that would later surface in his polonaises and mazurkas, Chopin traveled to Vienna. There he established his reputation in the most demanding city of Europe. But Chopin soon left for Paris, where his extraordinary creative powers would come to fruition amid the revolutions roiling much of Europe. He quickly gained fame and a circle of powerful friends and acquaintances ranging from Rothschild, the banker, to Karl Marx.

Distinguished by his fastidious dress and the wracking cough that would cut short his life, Chopin spent his days composing and giving piano lessons to a select group of students. His evenings were spent at the keyboard, playing for his friends. It was at one of these Chopin gatherings that he met George Sand, nine years his senior. Through their long and often stormy relationship, Chopin enjoyed his richest creative period. As she wrote dozens of novels, he composed furiously -- both were compulsive creators. After their affair unraveled, Chopin became the protégé of Jane Stirling, a wealthy Scotswoman, who paraded him in his final year across England and Scotland to play for the aristocracy and even Queen Victoria. In 1849, at the age of thirty-nine, Chopin succumbed to the tuberculosis that had plagued him from childhood.

Chopin in Paris is an illuminating biography of a tragic figure who was one of the most important composers of all time. Szulc brings to life the complex, contradictory genius whose works will live forever. It is compelling reading about an exciting epoch of European history, culture, and music -- and about one of the great love dramas of the nineteenth century.Download Description
Born in Poland in 1810, Chopin emigrated to Vienna at age eighteen -- and then to Paris, where from 1831 to 1849 he would spend almost half of his brief and tumultuous life. In Paris his extraordinary powers would reach their height and he would shine among the immensely talented writers, painters, and musicians who were working there and defining their era. Chopin's other acquaintances ranged from Rothschild to Marx -- and it was here that he began his long and stormy relationship with the novelist George Sand. In Chopin in Paris -- a New York Times Notable Book -- Tad Szulc brings to life this complex, contradictory genius, and re-creates an unsurpassed epoch of European history, culture, and music. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (19)

It could have been better
I'm just reaching the middle of Chopin in Paris right now, and I already have a list of complaints that have become irritating.The book follows Chopin's life from childhood to his death, focusing primarily on the period of his self-selected Parisian exile.Other reviewers have noted the special place this moment holds in European cultural history and, if this is of interest to readers, they should peruse The Parisian World of Frederick Chopin by William Atwood.That work is an exhaustive socio-politico-cultural history of the period, interesting and colorfully written.While it only touches on Chopin peripherally, it explains the why's and how's of Paris as certainly the musical and probably the cultural center of Europe at that time.

Mr. Szulc's book does have its strong points.A recently written, authoritative account of Chopin's life is certainly overdue, and Szulc attempts this.He depends largely on textual sources, obviously, and much of what he says appears at first glance to be documented.For example, Szulc does treat George Sand very evenhandedly, letting the evidence speak for itself.Many, many writers have painted Sand as a depraved, blood-sucking harpy who robbed Chopin of his life, and Szulc resists the temptation.He relies heavily on the Andre Maurois biography of Sand and the correspondence in hand, and this presents a more fair and balanced picture of their relationship.On the plus side, Szulc manages to make it sound very dishy, heightening the interest.

Many things detract from the effort, however, firstly his use of purple ink.Szulc undercuts his own credibility with a turgid, wordy style and the use of hyperbole to describe every event.He often sounds like a partisan trying to convince the reader that Chopin's accomplishments are so great that they prove the superiority of Polish (or French, or I don't know whose) culture, and this is completely unnecessary and very distracting.Chopin did have his detractors early on in the 20th century, but today everyone accepts that Chopin was a genius, his works are masterpieces, and his influence can be felt and heard everywhere subsequently.Chopin carved out an international reputation for his playing alone on the basis of 30 public concerts he gave in his adult life, blowing almost all his peers out of the water in a couple of swift strokes and making Liszt his only serious competitor on the stage.I know of several concert artists alive today who do 30 concerts in 2-months' time as a part of their regular season, so by itself this would make Chopin's accomplishment extraordinary.All of the adjectival puffery just makes it harder to take seriously.

Szulc makes Chopin's sexuality an issue, and he handles the subject most unfortunately.To start with, Szulc bends over backwards to argue that Chopin wasn't gay in a fashion that borders on the offensive.He takes some early letters written to a male childhood friend and tries very lamely to explain that Chopin didn't really mean the epithets he larded the text with (can we say "latency period?").Szulc is obviously uncomfortable by the profusion of physical affection described there, yet he doesn't bother to explain it in terms of the differing standards of propriety and convention of the day.Enough research has been done regarding this subject that these sentiments appear innocuous and entirely lacking in sexual intent when taken in context. Unless of course, Chopin had a secret, closeted life.The sexuality of many great cultural figures has been argued spuriously for a while now, notably Tchaikovsky and Schubert.If people are going to bring it up, then the subject now deserves a serious, scholarly treatment.Szulc avoids this, doing his readers a disservice by giving them an embarrassed shiver in its place when touching on any aspect of Chopin's love life. While it is doubtful that Chopin was even bisexual, myths and legends persist.Szulc does not explore the matter in any meaningful way that would lay the question to rest.

Then there is Chopin's mental state.Chopin had a number of personality quirks, especially his hesitancy, his aristocratic manner and certain prejudices prevalent in his letters, and Szulc brings these to the fore.He also spends a good deal of the page in a tiresome and unconvincing effort to analyze the soi-disant `link' between mental instability and creativity, quoting a couple of doctors and psychological experts.Was Chopin really schizoid or bipolar, as Szulc asserts?It's very, very hard to say without any clinical evidence (and there isn't any), yet Szulc takes it as a foregone conclusion that Chopin was, mostly because of his genius, and he concludes that other major artistic figures of the day were also, again because of their genius.I thought people had given that theory up along with the Oedipus Complex long ago!In his defense, Chopin had a diagnosis of consumption early in his life, and he spent the rest of it in indifferent or failing health because of his disease.I can't imagine anyone waking up in the morning in a good mood if they were facing that every single day of their lives.Additionally, the pressures of celebrity certainly heightened Chopin's characterological flaws, a reaction we see today in much-less-talented Hollywood celebrities unable to cope with their fame.Is this to say that Chopin' creativity pushed him to the "edge of madness"?I don't think so, and Szulc just seems to be guessing.

Lastly, Szulc's practice of citing sources is confusing and spotty. The book does have a bibliography, but Szulc dispenses with end- or footnotes in the text.He defends this practice in the preface, saying that the references are cited directly in the text and notes are therefore unnecessary.But I've been looking in the bibliography for two days now for a journal article he quoted as a medical reference, and I can't find it there.

Oh yes, I almost forgot.He doesn't talk about the music.Not really, and this is just a shame.Chopin was a leading exponent in the use of chromatic harmony and the evolution, transmogrification really, of formal rhythmic structures from the classical sonata of Haydn, Mozart and even Beethoven, into the very free yet harmonically complex forms that came about later in the 19th century.It is this use of chromatic harmony and coloring, and no other, that makes Chopin's music and that of his contemporaneous peers groundbreaking and as highly influentual as it turned out to be.It is not too much to say that, thanks to Chopin and his contemporaries, Debussy, Stravinsky and Schoenberg became possible.But we don't get that.Instead we are treated to an overblown and even lurid description of the subjective emotional content of the works, without any explanation of "why".Too bad, because an accessible discussion of the musical style would be of great benefit to anyone interested in music.I am reminded of how other non-musicians such as Will and Ariel Durant very succesfully present this subject in interesting yet non-technical terms, so there's no reason why anyone else can't.

Other reviewers have pointed out that there isn't a good, authoritative biography of Chopin available, and I'm sad to say the current effort falls short on several counts.I can't help thinking that this book would have been much better if it had been written by Maynard Solomon.

Chopin in Paris is for the Literate
The most fantastic level of detail, insight and analysis on Chopin! However, the depth and sophistication rendered by Tad Szulc is done so in a manner that the typical English reader (with a poor command of the language) will find difficult. If you are a literate reader this is the ultimate book for theChopin enthusiast.

Flawed but STILL Fascinating
I'm glad I gave this book a chance because I enjoyed it quite a lot.Why only 4 stars?A good editor would have cut out some repetitious details.It's annoying, but don't let it stop you from reading it.

The tragedy of Chopin's short life was consumption (tuberculosis of the lungs).You'll marvel that he could give lessons and even perform in public when he seemed to be perpetually short of breath.In this sense, it's a story of triumphing over the odds.

In another sense, it's a love story, i.e., his 8 year affair with George Sand (aka Aurore Dudevant).These were years of extraordinary creativity for Chopin.Their breakup was like many another - faults on both sides, misplaced pride, lack of communication, friends taking sides, etc.

Your heart will break for Chopin in this final tragedy, particularly since we all know (with the benefit of hindsight) that his time was running short and his strength was failing.And he couldn't quite forget her, pathetically asking about her through her grown children.Was she at his bedside when he breathed his last?You'll have to read the book.

One test of a good book (for me) is whether it inspires and opens the door onto other books.This book easily passes that test.Not only does it make me want to read more about Chopin and his friends, but when I listen to his music, I am more moved than ever.

Interesting, but redundant, judgemental, and poorly paced...
This book is well written from the standpoint of sustaining a narrative based purely on personal facts and historical data, and in making one person's life interesting to people now far removed from his time, but the book really begins to slow down and become pedantic somewhere near the middle. It is the fault of poor editing, I believe, and the inclusion of several strange passages where the writer interjects his own opinions or judgements both on Chopin's character and the times he lived in were just redundant, annoying, and superfluous. By the time you finish reading the book your respect for Chopin will probably be lessened noticeably, not only because the writer seems to always dwell on what he considers the "faults" of the musician's character, but also because the unending reiteration of their cataloguing becomes fatiguing by the end. Who cares, really? Does it matter when listening to this man's Nocturnes or Polonaises or the incredible Etudes that he was a good businessman, extremely "careful" with his money, and that he was anti-semetic, often verbally abusing his Jewish music publishers? Does it matter that Chopin was a hypochondriac, a gossip, a manipulative, immature, emotionally-inept recluse? Will it matter to you? You will have to decide after reading this book, as all the "sordid" details of his life are open to your perusal. When confronted by Chopin's "faults" and "sins" or "defects of character" I was not impressed in the least. In fact, even though the author goes out of his way to make one aware of these things, nothing he could say really surprised me, and the attempts on his part to prejudice the reader seemed clumsy and ill-handled. A better writer would have been persuasive, the would-be moralist Szulc ends up merely berating and nagging. There are better biographies out there.

good book on his life and love: music and George Sand
This book is a great read for anyone interested in learning more about Chopin and his love for music.You also get to learn about his love interest in George Sand.Szulc does a great job of keeping the material interesting as Chopin's contributions for all of time.

This is a great book to have for anyone that loves Chopin! ... Read more

Book Description
The accounts of Chopin's pupils, acquaintances and contemporaries, together with his own writing, provide valuable insights into the musician's pianistic and stylistic practice, his teaching methods and his aesthetic beliefs.This unique collection of documents, edited and annotated by Jean-Jacques Eigeldinger, reveals Chopin as teacher and interpreter of his own music.Included in this study is extensive appendix material that presents annotated scores, and personal accounts of Chopin's playing by pupils, writers, and critics. ... Read more

Amazon.com
This book may be of greater interest to the historian--political, social, and cultural--than to the musician. As its title indicates, it is about France, particularly Paris, more than about Chopin, and presupposes considerable knowledge of French history. Chopin wanders through its pages as a peripatetic presence; there are quotes from his letters commenting on whom he meets, where he plays, what he sees and hears, with references to his friends, pupils, and publishers. The author, a New York dermatologist who has written two previous books about Chopin (including Fryderyk Chopin: Pianist from Warsaw), has prodigiously researched every aspect of French life between the revolutions of 1830 and 1848. He quotes copiously from contemporary writers as diverse as Balzac, Heine, Berlioz, Mrs. Trollop, and Thackeray. A meticulously detailed guided tour through Paris is followed by an account of several generations of the royal family describing their politics, personalities, fortunes, and misfortunes, as well as their habits, love affairs, interrelationships, hangers-on, and adversaries, resulting in a bewildering profusion of names.

Among the most interesting chapters are those on the Polish refugee community--where Chopin had many friends--and those on the artists, writers, musicians, philosophers, and theologians (including numerous crackpots) who created the city's rich cultural life in its concerts, theaters, operas, journals, and famous private salons. The writing is lively, witty, and informative, marred only by occasional infelicities like "his inseparable sister," and the book abounds with excellent illustrations. Unfortunately, it also abounds with anti-Semitic slurs; Atwood misses no chance to point out, in an insulting manner, the Jewish origin of anyone he does not like, from the Rothschilds to Heine, Meyerbeer, and Offenbach. --Edith Eisler Book Description
Fleeing the Russian oppression of his native Warsaw in 1831, Fr_d_ric Chopin stopped in Paris on his way to London, became entranced with the city, and remained there until his death eighteen years later. This engaging book recreates the Paris that Chopin knew, providing vivid details about its people, places, politics, and arts, and their influence in the musician during this fruitful period in his career. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A Wealth of Fascinating Information
I found this book at our local library here in Albuquerque, and just had to own a copy.For anyone with an interest in Chopin, this book is an incredible gold mine of facts and details you won't find anywhere else, but Chopin is really only a small part of the wide-ranging subjects covered.Everyone who was anyone in Paris in the 1830s and '40s figures in this book, and people and events are also connected to the wider world of Europe and even America.The major composers, writers, artists, social reformers, politicians, and even doctors are covered.Nearly everything you might want to know about daily life in the first half of the 19th century is also described (will definitely cure you of any longing for the "good old days"....).

William Atwood is a dermatologist, and his descriptions of the medical thinking and practice of the time were especially interesting to me.As a holistic practitioner, I appreciated his discussion of the popularity of homeopathy in the 19th century.Chopin, of course, used homeopathy instead of the brutal methods of the allopathic doctors of his time, and seems to have been far better off than he would have been otherwise.

This book was a great help to me in clarifying Chopin's place in his time and adopted country.I expect to refer to it often.

A Wealth of Fascinating Information
I found this book at our local library here in Albuquerque, and just had to own a copy.For anyone with an interest in Chopin, this book is an incredible gold mine of facts and details you won't find anywhere else, but Chopin is really only a small part of the wide-ranging subjects covered.Everyone who was anyone in Paris in the 1830s and '40s figures in this book, and people and events are also connected to the wider world of Europe and even America.The major composers, writers, artists, social reformers, politicians, and even doctors are covered.Nearly everything you might want to know about daily life in the first half of the 19th century is also described (will definitely cure you of any longing for the "good old days"....).

William Atwood is a dermatologist, and his descriptions of the medical thinking and practice of the time were especially interesting to me.As a holistic practitioner, I appreciated his discussion of the popularity of homeopathy in the 19th century.Chopin, of course, used homeopathy instead of the brutal methods of the allopathic doctors of his time, and seems to have been far better off than he would have been otherwise.

This book was a great help to me in clarifying Chopin's place in his time and adopted country.I expect to refer to it often.

A Wealth of Fascinating Information
I found this book at our local library here in Albuquerque, and just had to own a copy.For anyone with an interest in Chopin, this book is an incredible gold mine of facts and details you won't find anywhere else, but Chopin is really only a small part of the wide-ranging subjects covered.Everyone who was anyone in Paris in the 1830s and '40s figures in this book, and people and events are also connected to the wider world of Europe and even America.The major composers, writers, artists, social reformers, politicians, and even doctors are covered.Nearly everything you might want to know about daily life in the first half of the 19th century is also described (will definitely cure you of any longing for the "good old days"....).

William Atwood is a dermatologist, and his descriptions of the medical thinking and practice of the time were especially interesting to me.As a holistic practitioner, I appreciated his discussion of the popularity of homeopathy in the 19th century.Chopin, of course, used homeopathy instead of the brutal methods of the allopathic doctors of his time, and seems to have been far better off than he would have been otherwise.

This book was a great help to me in clarifying Chopin's place in his time and adopted country.I expect to refer to it often.

An Excellent Book!
What pleasure it is to be able to sit down and write a review of a truly enjoyable book such as this one. As I sit here typing I am listening to some music from one of the greatest composers of the 19th Century, FredericChopin. Fitting no less, as this book provides the reader with a guidethrough the City of Paris as seen and experienced by Chopin during his timethere.

The author, William Atwood, has written two previous books onChopin and in this third book he shows that he has a deep understanding forChopin and his time. Covering the period from 1831 to 1849 Atwood coversall manner of subjects in his discussion of Paris, that beautiful city thatseemed to produce some of the greatest artists in Europe. The authorprovides you with an insight into the social and artistic scene as well assome of the more interesting people, places and activities of Paris.

The book covers not only music and musicians but poets, writers, painters,the opera and theatre, medicine, bohemians, people of the street and howthey all lived and survived during this turbulent period. The story justflows along smoothly and some of the stories are just amazing.

Forinstance when Paris decided to solve the sewage problem that tended to blotthe city streets they changed the roadways contours from concave to convexallowing the swill and sewage to run off the roads into the new drainagesystem. The only problem with this was that not all the drains wereproperly covered and children often fell through the drains into theunderground sewer system!

Another interesting little story in thechapter on medicine informs the reader that during the craze for bleedingas a form of combating illness that swept Paris during the early 1830's itwas estimated that by 1833 Paris was importing 41.5 million leeches ayear!

One of my favourite stories was the tragic tale of AlphonsinePlessis, the lady of the camellias, which can be found in the chapterregarding bohemians and demimondes (I don't want to spoil the story foranyone so you will have to buy the book and read it for yourself).According the Atwood the people of Paris still leave offerings of flowerson her tomb at the cemetery at Montmarte.

For anyone who loves goodhistory, the arts or just a well-written book I am sure they will enjoythis story. In the pages you will find some of the greatest names in theworld of the arts, Frederic Chopin, Eugene Delacroix, George Sand, Honorede Balzac, Hector Berlioz, Alexandre Dumas, Victor Hugo, Franz Liszt, andmany many more. The book also provides numerous black and whiteillustrations showing Paris, its people and its buildings, during thistime. This is a great story, an enjoyable read and an interesting piece ofhistory. ... Read more

Book Description
Frederic Chopin died a famous man with his place in the musical pantheon secure. Yet the works that were once most popular tended to be his lightest and least challenging, leading many listeners and critics to view him as a miniaturist and composer for the salon. The bold pieces now revered as his masterpieces-the epic and tragic structures of the ballades, scherzos, polonaises, and sonatas, and the compact but daring preludes and mazurkas-were rarely played and poorly understood. In fact, a larger proportion of Chopin's pieces are now in the active repertory than that of any composer. Chopin - A Listener's Guide to the Master of the Piano takes a detailed tour through the life and oeuvre of the sovereign master of the keyboard. The composer's metabolic adaptation of the melodic structures of Italian opera and the folk music of his native Poland for the resources of the piano are examined in detail, as are the originality and boldness he displayed throughout his tragically short, astonishing career. The book is accompanied by a CD containing 15 complete compositions (and one full movement from his Piano Sonata No. 2) performed by pianist Idil Biret, from her complete survey of the composer's music on the Naxos label. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A most accessible way of understanding Chopin's music.
Pair a full-length classical cd from the classical music publisher Naxos with a book surveying Chopin's biography and influences and you have the perfect introduction to Chopin - and a pick recommended not just for public library holdings, but for schools seeking to introduce students to Chopin. Descriptions of his works, styles, and diversity come from a New York-based critical music writer whose addition to the 'Unlocking the Masters' series provides newcomers with a most accessible way of understanding Chopin's music.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

A marvelous series from Amadeus Press
Amadeus Press has filled a underserved niche in the classical music literature with these marvelous little guides to the great composers and their greatest compositions.They fill the gap between the highly detailed, scholarly volumes of the lives of the great composers ... and the too-superficial tiny guides that offer too little program notes on the music or the composer.It gives you a compelling "play-by-play" description of each composition without venturing into musicology that would lose a beginner.The entire series is extremely well written and make a great guides to new discoveries.It should appeal to beginners as well as classical veterans alike.This Chopin volume is proving to be a valuable guide as I explore in depth Chopin's music and the great performances on disc.

Every major category is covered in satisfying depth to give you solid understanding of what is behind each work - and what in particular is historically and musically significant in them.ALl major works are covered: the lilting Waltzes .. the pensive and sometimes turbulent Nocturnes ... the weighty Sonatas, Scherzos and Ballades ... the delicate miniatures ... the amazing early piano concertos ... the showpieces, Etudes, Preludes and even the few chamber pieces of Chopin are explored to reveal many curious historic details.

This volume on Chopin makes for compelling reading and is one of the only modern volumes of program notes on the piano music of Chopin I could find.The number of works covered is large and satisfying with enough detail to give you a deep appreciation of the significance, musical structures and impact of each work.In a way, it reads much like program notes in a CD, but covering the entire range of Chopin's life and works.Other reviews below outline the range covered.The volume, supplemented by classic volume like Schonberg's "Lives of the Great Composers" should give a high quality education to the music of Chopin.This book includes a Naxos CD containing performances by Idl Bieret which gives a quality intro to Chopin, but some listeners will surely want to explore the great Chopin performances of pianists like Rubinstein, Horowitz, Kissin, Perahia, Argerich and many others.Bottom line: these "Unlocking the Masters Series" are a great investment to deepening one's appreciation that will not go out of style any time soon.5 stars.

A Small but Exquisite Book with CD of the Music Discussed
These small books from Amadeus concentrate on one composer, one of the masters. In these books a brief biography (25 or so pages) set the tone for a discussion of the man's music. In the case of Chopin, this can be summed up as a case of being considered a musical genius at a very early age, followed by increasing fame as a composer even as he was spending years dying from tuberculosis.

In the sections on the music, an expert author describes what the best consensus of our time is saying about the works. In the case of Chopin these are broken down into the types of works: Etudes and Preludes, Music for Piano and orchestra, The Waltzes, The Nocturnes, The Sonatas, Patriotism and Tragedy: The Polonaises, Individual works, The Impromptus and Scherzos, The Mazurkas, and The Ballades.

A CD included with the book contains fifteen complete compositions of Chopin's works. Having the CD with the book means that the author can refer to the music in his writing knowing that you will have exactly the music he is discussing. This is a great concept that adds imeasurably to the book.

great for students
This is a GREAT book for students studying Chopin!As a recent student myself, I wish I would have had this book for general information on Chopin, his life, and his works.The book is laid out in a simple format, making easy for anyone to use.It goes into the styles of his songs and what made them unique.It also includes a CD which the book tells you what and how to listen for things that are specifically Chopin.This book is a must-have for any student studying or performing the works of this master of the piano. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (5)

No, it's not the Paderewski
Speaking of correcting misinformation, this is definitely *not* the Paderewski edition. The Mikuli and Paderewski editions are certainly not the same, although if you look in the commentary in the back of any Paderewski Chopin score, you will find that the Mikuli is one of the many sources that were consulted for the Paderewski.

Dover used to publish a reproduction of the Paderewski edition years ago, and it was wonderful. Unfortunately, they no longer seem to do so.

THE edition
This is arguably THE edition for Chopin's Preludes, and not much needs to be said about it, except correcting some false information presented by reviewers below, particularly the one that recommended the Paderewski edition over this version, which is edited by Mikuli. This version IS the genuine Paderewski edition! Paderewski did not edit this volume, Mikuli did.

Its not the book, its the editor
The Chopin Etudes are some of the most difficult and interesting pieces to master, and I find then fascinating.However, Carl Mikuli creates an obstacle in this book.Mikuli, being one of Chopin's dear students, thought that because he was a student of Chopin he knew Chopin enough to change his music.While editing Chopin's works, he would change notes, fingerings, and other important articulation tools to the liking he believed was Chopin's.When comparing Chopin's original transcripts to those that Mikuli edited, there are huge differences that make the music quite different to what Chopin had hoped.I personally recommend Chopin's works edited by Paderevsky (or Paderewsky), for he kept every single aspect of the music Chopin wrote, even specific dynamic marks.The Paderevsky editions give a clear understanding of what Chopin wanted for his pieces.

bad fingering suggestion
Fingering is important, especially to pieces like the Chopin Etudes.In many places Mikuli's suggestion is misleading.The main problem is that he often recommends the 4th finger when 3rd finger should be used.4th finger is our naturally weak finger.Instead of trying to make it strong (which Schumann attempted with tragic results), we shall avoid it when possible.Chopin is also known to have his own unique fingering for these etudes, but Mikuli did not include these on the edition (ironic since he claimed to be a student and adherent of Chopin's teaching).In many places he did not mark the fingering (when advice is needed) at all.In hindsight it is agood thing (rather than giving people the wrong advice).That forced me to figure out my own figuring.In some places I used his bad suggestion, only to change it after hours of practice, which have all been wasted!His pedal instructions are satisfactory in most part.I still gave this book a 3 star because it is relatively cheap and includes both the etudes and the preludes. (but nowadays you can download free sheetmusic like this from the web).

This is THE edition
This is one volume in a series of the complete Chopin piano compositions.It is the best collection, with biographical and musicological essays at the beginning of each volume, a nice, easy to use index, and photocopies oforiginal scores which are fascinating to look at for any Chopin fanatic. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (4)

Excellent score, excellent price
I have not found a less expensive score than Dover. The book is sturdy and the pages are bound tightly. I put my scores through much use, and none of the pages have ever fallen out of the Dover editions. One thing to note about this score is that it's edited by Mikuli, one of Chopin's pupils; the older Dover publications of this book had edits by Paderewski, which I actually prefer over Mikuli. However, the fingerings are only minor issues.

Sturdy, clear, beautiful, well loved
I've had this book for several years, and have marked it up, dog-eared it, spilled coffee on many pages, and otherwise treated it with familiar reverence. It has become a great friend.

The type-setting is crystal-clear. The edition notes are instructive.The pages never fall out, even if you crease the spine to keep the book flat against the piano stand.

Then, of course, there's the glorious music itself. So much magnificent music in one volume.Perhaps we should even see this as one of the Great Books of the Western World.

Great book
I'm a pianist/piano teacher. I choose this edition for teaching my students. This is a complete book at lower price. The book is durable. Pages don't come out easily.

Chopin's Ballads, Impromptus, and Sonatas
This is a great book. I have used it on numerous occasions and can give no more than an absolute satisfactory report. Often, publishers write incorrect fingering and/or dynamics, and this book appears to have notsubdued to that level. The publishers obviously knew what Chopin wanted anddelivered just that instead of placing marks they thought were appropriate. ... Read more

Book Description
Frederic Chopin left his Polish homeland when he was 20 and lived most of his life in Paris, France. His genius as a pianist and composer flowered there with the encouragement and support of female novelist George Sand. He wrote more than 200 works for piano during his life, which was tragically cut short by tuberculosis at age 39. His heart was taken from his body and returned to Poland, where he remains a national hero. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (2)

The Chopin Concertos
Whether you have heard these works many times or are new to them, reading and following the score of a masterwork is a way to get yet closer to the piece.

Chopin wrote both concertos when he was 18-20 years of age.His masterly writing for the piano is astounding, and while it's been written and said that he wasn't much of an orchestrator, after reading the score I found this not to be the case.Sure, the piano is the star, spotlight and all, but the orchestra has much to contribute.

There's no finer scores for the money than these by Dover. Recommended!

Indestructible--Frederic Chopin would have approved.
The I. Paderewski edition of Chopin's Piano Concerto's No. 1 and 2 is the best edition I've looked at.The orchestral part is intricately transcribed for the second piano.Like all Dover products, this book andits binding are virtually indestructible...a major plus for the monumentaltask of mastering the greatest concertos of them all (Concerto No.2 in Fminor). A good buy! ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (5)

Recommand these landmakd edition of Chopin's Music
I adore Chopin's music. I own a Chopin's Complete Works for Solo Piano on CD. But I still buy these Carl Muliki's landmarkedition.There are many editions of Chopin's music. They are different from one another in many passages and fingerings. I boughtthis edition because they are edited by Chopin's long time pupil, later, his teaching assistant, CarlMikuli (1819-1897) - Polish pianist, composer, conductor and teacher. Also helped by many Chopin's faithful pupils and beloved friends. As Mikuli said in the Forward:"This edition would succeed in restoring the authentic text and in making further mutilation(of Chopin's music)forever impossible, ......I must note here that the fingering of this edition comes in large part from Chopin himself, where it does not, .... in the editor's opinion." -- I had some Chopin's music edited by Rafael Joseffy, like "Piano Concertos Nos. 1 and 2", also by Dover Publication, which I did not likethat much. The fingering did not works for me.

The following is a list of Chopin'sWorks in the CarlMikuli Edition by Dover Publication. Each one is about 200 pages, not too thick, sturdily bond, can endure years of use. And the price is very reasonable.

Complete Preludes and Etudes:
Preludes - moods inminiature
Etudes -new school of pianism

Complete Ballades, Impromptu & Sonatas:
Ballades - poetic legendary dramas
Impromptu - unrestrained feelings
Sonatas: classical currents

Fantasy in F minor, Barcarolle, Berceuse and Other Works.

Nocturnes and Polonaises
Nocturnes - night and its melancholy mysteries
Polonaises - heroic hymns of the battle

Waltzes and Scherzos
Waltzes - dance of the soul and not of the body.
Scherzos - Chopin's own creations,not Beethoven type's Scherzi.

Mazurkas: dance of the soul, divine coquetries.

Many famous pianists had made recordings in complete Etudes and Preludes, Ballades, Impromptus, Mazurkas, Nocturnes, Polonaises,Scherzi andWaltzes and Other Works. You can do a search to find out your favorite pianist's recordings and listen to it along with the scores. Enjoy listening and practicing Chopin's music!

Decent, but not the Paderewski
Don't buy this edition if you are under the impression that it is The Paderewski Edition published by Dover. This is now the new Carl Mikuli edition published by G. Schirmer (perhaps the worst edition in the world) reprinted by Dover. Dover used to publish this from The Paderewski Edition; however, for some reason, it's gone out of print. If you can get your hands on an old copy of this from The Paderewski Edition, I would highly advise buying it! It's much better, and more true to Chopin's intentions. Even if you can't find an old Dover copy, The Paderewski edition is still published privately. Don't buy this edition, it's truly a waste of your money.

not quite complete
Notes are printed clearly. Binding is durable. Pages won't come out easily. This is not a complete edition of Nocturnes and Polonaises. This book has only 11 Polonaises and does not include 5 more Polonaises. Despite being criticized spurious by some music scholars, the omitted Polonaises are great for playing. It does not include the other postumous C minor Nocturne. If you want a book that is different from G.Shirmer's edition, this book will NOT do.

Chopin Nocturnes and Polonaises, Dover edition
I have to say that the Dover edition is my favorite for most any piano music, regardless of composer. The copy I have of this book is quite beat up, mostly because it has been used for many years but the pages and coverare still in considerably good shape. Besides containing some of the mostbeautiful piano music of the romantic period, the markings and notation areeasy to read and understand, making the composer's intentions for the musicperfectly clear to the pianist. I highly recommend this book, along withany other piano music editions by Dover Publishers.

Dover's Chopin is the best
I trust to Dover editions of Chopin piano works but I would like to see Chopin's last nocturne (20th)C# minor. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Exactly what I was looking for
This book was exactly what I was looking for. My husband borrowed a copy of this book from someone and liked it so much that he had to order it. We would highly recommend it.

Nocturnes by F. Chopin
I like the product, because i read some especifications for it and when it arrived, before the date that th seller told me, it was like the especifications said. It an excellent productNocturnes: Piano Solo

Nocturnes in time and space
A beautifully organized version of the Nocturnes. There is much attention given to detailed fingering and artistic interpretation in terms of harmonic flow and melodic interaction. Of course, the music lends itself to individual understanding and a unique state of consciousness, but this version does well to introduce the player to a well-founded interpretation. Highly recommended!!! ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (2)

Great Music At Great Value
This edition of Chopin's Mazurkas is far from definitive, but for the piano student and music lover, it is a great value.To get the composer's entire output of Mazurkas at this price is remarkable.Recommended!

Complete Mazurka -music of his homeland
This book is based on FR. Kistner Leipzig edition. Editor is Chopin's pupil Carl Mikuli foreword dated 1879, 30 years after chopin's death.

There are many other editions of Mazurkas which I personally prefer to this available but I rate this book as a important reference to learn what the composer was intended. The editor Carl Mikuli was Chopin's piano pupil and many times he witnessed the performance of composer himself which were only to those of close to him. (Chopin did only a handful of public concerts and recitals in his life) However, intimate accounts of how his (Chopin)fingers were shaped during the passages could only be used as a sentimental knowledges which has little use for today's performance standard.

Nonetheless, we could keep in mind that what composer himself tried to express and teach his students his music as a great way to express our feeling through these beautiful works. Many Mazurkas have only a few pages and many could be played by begining students.

There are discussions of how the Mazurkas should be played, outside this book but Mikuli himself did not address this matter. (Where should the Mazurka's accents have to be placed--and there is a accounts of Chopin and Meyerbeer arguing reported by other pupil von Lenz who was taking lessons of Mazurka.)

Convenient package of 1 book with this inexpensive price, with the cover portlait by Eugene Delacroix, also Chopin's close friend is a great buy for the piano students of all levels. ... Read more

Book Description
This new volume in Schirmer's Library of Musical Classics presents 26 preludes, 21 nocturnes and 19 waltzes - a large amount of music at a value price. There are new urtext editions of seven pieces included, not edited by Joseffy in his original Schirmer editions: Prelude in A-flat Major (1834), Nocturne in C-sharp minor (1830), Nocturne in C minor (1837), and Waltzes in A-flat Major (1830), E-flat Major (1830), E-flat Major (1840), and A minor (1843). ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Chopin's Preldes/Nocturnes/Waltzes master pieces
This is an excellent book from Schirmer's Chopin collection "Complete ...", in this case "... Preludes, Nocturnes and Waltzes". Really amazing collection of Chopin's master pieces. This book worths every cent you invest in it.

Chopin collection_sheet music
Carefully transcripted and correctly analysed in both tonal and expression matters this sheet music Chopin collection covers the needs of both the experienced and the amateurs pianists.

an outstanding value
This book is an excellent value with offerings suitable for the intermediate to advanced player. A wonderful opportunity to add these selections to your music library. The book itself is about 245 pages it stays open easily on my music stand. The pages are large and printing is dark. ... Read more

Book Description
A collection of advanced piano solos by Frederic Chopin (27). ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Complete Chopin Etudes
Represented in this book are all of Opus 10 and 25, and 3 other etudes published posthumously.



This is a great book - it's complete, has very strong binding, sits flat on the piano and of course, the music is amazing.



But there are 2 letdowns:



-The book appears to be a reprint of a very old edition, and while most the music is very clear and easy to read, the fingering in places is hard to understand. In particular, '4's look basically identical to '1's in many cases.



-There are often not enough fingers given, for example, in the Op 10 No 4, using the right fingers is essential in developing speed, but there are only 2 finger markings on the entire first page



But considering that the Dover edition of the Etudes (apparently) has many poor fingerings, this book may be a good alternative.



It's not without its flaws, but very good none-the-less.

chopin's etudes
I bought this for my son, who is incarcerated. He says the book is great and helps him pass the time creatively. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Polish dancing lessons
First of all this is a Shirmer,s book. Any day my piano teacher brought a package from Shirmer's was a red letter day. Shirmer's rocks.
Why Mazurkas??I owned this book since the fifties or so but it must have evaporated or disappeared. But on a foggy day there is nothing like a rollicking Mazurka to get the blood going, so I rebought it. And here is my mother's story.
In the thirties when she first arrived Wanda Landowska gave master classes, and my mother attended. Wanda was playing Mazurkas, and she would sing along (in Polish) the words of the original folk tune. At the end of the lesson all the students would file by to shake the great hand and she would ask them their musical ambitions.When it came my mother's turn Wanda looked down her considerable nose and asked "And vat are you?" ... Read more

Book Description
Edited, revised and fingered by Rafael Joseffy with historical and analytical comments by James Huneker. ... Read more