Product Description
Nearly 300 letters reveal Chopin as both man and artist and illuminate his fascinating world—Europe of the 1830’s and 1840’s. "They abound in delightful gossip, are merry rather than malicious, are engagingly witty, and at times their humor becomes positively Rabelaisian."—Books. Preface. Index.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Good buy
Shipped fast. Good condition. The one thing that was sort of strange, is that it dosen't show any letters that were sent to Chopin himself, so a lot of his replys do not make sense. Also every time that he wrote two or more consecutive letters to the same person, it is addressed "To the Same" so you have to look all the way back to the first. In the case of Juliana Fontana this can span for more than ten pages.

Chopin's Actual Writing- What More Could One Want?
The title says it all, basically. This is a highly accurate book, of course, and it is mostly thanks to Chopin's beautiful writing. However, the preface provides highly accurate and careful/thoughtful information about Chopin and his letters. I really appreciated the amount of care that was put into editing Chopin's letters with the least bias possible- greatly done. For all Chopin fans, this is a must have; what better thing to read about the romantic genius than his actual writing (very detailed and colorful, too)? I highly recommend this book.

Treasured documents that reveal the essence of a soul!
After having listened the principal Romantic composers along the history of music, one tends to make oneself this decisive question:What's in last instance the main difference between Chopin and the rest of his colleagues?

To my mind, there are three basic factors that made it possible. First and foremost, the introspective character of his works. Indeed, Chopin found inspiration through the history, the geography and his emotional universe made the rest: to blend his livings with his dreamlike temperament. Second, his profound sensibility before the world that surrounded him blended with his poetic imagination allowed to hierarchy his musical thinking in several categories, the epic Scherzos, the declamatory Ballads, the charming Nocturnes, the Pre- Impressionistic Preludes (that must have inflamed the Pantheistic musical canvas of Claude Debussy), those cannons hidden between flowers (Polonaises), the Pastoral character of the Mazurkas, the febrile end exalted lyric jewels best known like his Etudes and the gentle accords emanated from his Waltzes, that captured the easy Romantic vein of most of audiences. Third, his music possesses probably the most ambitious scale of kaleidoscopic emotions, no other composer has been able to make that amazing journey: infinite sadness, deep melancholia, sumptuous lyricism, polychrome sense of the nostalgia, understood like a term that includes an impressive gamut of livings, missed loves, love for the ground, patriotic airs, the strong desire for the independence of his beloved Poland, the exaltation for the nature and finally a sense of universal embracement that may be found out even in the humblest thrill.Besides, there were other memorable evidences of his genius, hovered by the patina of the time. The Fantasy in F minor, composed at the summit of his artistic creativeness, the emblematic Berceuse and the enigmatic Barcarolle tinged and nourished a brief but febrile existence, where the poetry made the passion was even incorporeal which dictated the most elusive musical motives of inimitable fragrance.

All the composers after him, keep an eternal gratitude by his undeniable influence. Scriabin, Rachmaninoff, Debussy, Granados, Mac Dowell, Faure among the most representative ones.

These letters carve in relief the purity and grandness of hi screative artistic as well as his most intimate thoughts . Don't miss it.

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 years untill 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. ... Read more

Product Description
Frederic Chopin, celebrated pianist and probably the greatest composer for the piano the world has ever known, was born in a little cottage in Poland on the estate of the Count Skarbek whose children were tutored by his father, Nicolas Chopin. The child loved music from babyhood and when the family moved to Warsaw a few years after his birth, he was placed under the tutelage of the best masters of music in Poland. His astounding performance, playing the solo part of a difficult concerto with the full Warsaw orchestra when only nine years of age marked little Frederic as the genius he was. Through the early years to that momentous day in Vienna when his playing at the theatre of Count Gallenburg actually launched his career as a major figure in the world of music, Frederic Chopin s childhood and boyhood are presented. Author: Opal Wheeler Format: 160 pages, paperback Publisher: Zeezok Publishing (2007) ISBN: 9781933573113 ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Not entirely pleased
There were no seller details regarding this book apart from title and writer. I took a chance, bought it anyway and unknowingly bought a childrens book. I should have found out more about the publication before purchase, BUT really would expect at least just a few notes about the publication by the seller. I will avoid sellers who do not take the time to enter at least a few descriptive notes in the future.

POLAND'S CHOPIN: GREATEST COMPOSER FOR PIANO EVER
This book, wonderfully,brings Chopin's early life/years/music to life. He is a one in a billion classical music genius. The book flows nicely and provides a great intro into Chopin's life. Also, highly recommended is Chopin: Later Years. These 2 books are a fantastic start for delving into the incredible life of "the" greatest composer for piano, "in the world!": CHOPIN. ... Read more

Product Description
While in examining the earlier works, the praise bestowed on them was often largely mixed with censure, and the admiration felt for them tempered by dissatisfaction; we shall have little else than pure praise and admiration for the works that remain to be considered, at least for the vast majority of them. One thing, however, seems to me needful before justice can be done to the composer Chopin: certain prejudices abroad concerning him have to be combated. I shall, therefore, preface my remarks on particular compositions and groups of compositions by some general observations. ... Read more

Product Description
The fundamental characteristics of Chopin's style--the loose-textured, wide-meshed chords and arpeggios, the serpentine movements, the bold leaps--are exaggerated in the works of this group, and in their exaggeration become grotesque, and not unfrequently ineffective. These works show us, indeed, the composer's style in a state of fermentation; it has still to pass through a clearing process, in which some of its elements will be secreted and others undergo a greater or less change. ... Read more

Product Description
Chopin remembered Vienna as the city where he had made an instant success with his music, so when, after years at home in Warsaw, he returned to Vienna, he was heartsick to find only a cool welcome aw ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

POLISH COMPOSER CHOPIN: LATER YEARS with EARLY YEARS: GREAT DUO!
Opal Wheeler's two books together, are an unbeatable combo for Chopin enthusiasts. Learn a lot about 'the greatest composer for piano ever," in these two wonderfully written books. These should be in all libraries and great for music/piano teachers. Also, there are actual Chopin pieces in the book. Outstanding!!! ... Read more

Product Description
Celebrating its 100th anniversary, this extraordinary series continues to amaze and captivate its readers with detailed insight into the lives and work of music's geniuses. Unlike other composer biographies that focus narrowly on the music, this series explores the personal history of each composer and the social context surrounding the music. In a precise, engaging, and authoritative manner, each volume combines a vivid portrait of the master musicians' inspirations, influences, life experiences, even their weaknesses, with an accessible discussion of their work-all in roughly 300 pages. Further, each volume offers superb reference material, including a detailed life and times chronology, a complete list of works, a personalia glossary highlighting the important people in the composer's life, and a select bibliography. Under the supervision of music expert and series general editor Stanley Sadie, Master Musicians will certainly proceed to delight music scholars, serious musicians, and all music lovers for another hundred years.
In this profound look at Chopin, Jim Samson interweaves biographical and musical commentary to produce a well-rounded portrait the man and the musician. Incorporating the most recent research, it 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. Readers 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. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Good mix of criticism and biography
The primary focus of this book is not biography, although it is structured in alternating chapters with biographical information followed by analysis of the music of a given period.Other books (Tad Szulc's Chopin in Paris,for instance) might give a better impression of Chopin's daily life, butthis book does a fine job of relating the life to the music.Themusicological passages are fairly sophisticated -- a grounding in musictheory is assumed -- but if you have such a grounding, there are fineinsights to be found here.I was most pleased, for instance, to note thatSampson had observed the similarities between the Nocturne in F (Opus 15#1) and the Ballade #2 in A Minor, something I had long been aware of buthad not seen addressed in Chopin criticism.

Samson's examination of genreis illuminating too -- he tries to perceive Chopin's music not as anabsolute frozen in amber, but rather from the perspective of its own time,an era full of contrasting and overlapping genre conventions. ... Read more

Product Description
Etudes (Friedheim) ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (3)

Good collection, low quality
I bought this because I wanted to have all the Chopin's mazurcas in one book. I didn't check the size of the book (really small), so it is dificult to me reading the scores while a play piano. Also, because this books is a reprint of another one, some musical notes are missing.

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

Product 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.Amazon.com Review
Frederic Chopin was in many ways a contradictory figure: a passionately patriotic Pole, he left his country for good at the age of 21; frail and almost sexless, he was famous for a seven-year love affair with 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, his 18-year sojourn in France. It's also a portrait of a unique time, when musical and artistic luminaries such as Chopin, 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 about Fidel Castro and Pope John Paul II, Szulc sets out in search of Chopin the man, "the human dimension" he finds missing in other, more musically oriented biographies. What he finds is not always attractive; tortured through much of his life by physical and psychological illness, Chopin emerges as an often fussy, distant, manipulative man, as well as something of a snob. It's a tribute to his genius as a composer, Szulc writes, that he was befriended by some of the greatest minds of his age, including the larger-than-life figure of George Sand: "Fryderyk Chopin gave the world a treasure in music. The world gave Chopin a treasure in human beings." Commendably, Szulc refrains from editorializing about the composer's life and habits, in particular Chopin's break with Sand. Instead, he allows his wealth of primary sources--including diaries, memoirs, letters, and Chopin's own brief journal--to speak for themselves. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (23)

An outstanding book
This book tells the story of Chopin's relationship with the author, George Sand (a female forced to use a man's name in order to get her works published), and how their intimacy led to the composition of more and more beautiful music by Chopin. The backdrop of 19th century Paris, populated by larger-than-life artists, writers and musicians adds additional fascination. The reader will soon become totally immersed in the story.

Philip R. Alper, M.D.

Brilliant and fascinating
Admittedly, I haven't read other Chopin bios, but I found this one very well done and informative. Szulc is a first-class reporter and knows how to put information together. This relies on primary sources and the author makes some conjectures about events and bevahiors for which we have no way of knowing the truth. As a classical music buff, I deem this this book well worth reading.

INFORMATIVE AND GREAT!
Chopin In Paris is an amazing biography of the great Romantic composer, Frederic Chopin. It starts off with a little background on Chopin's family, then moves into the time when he left his homeland of Poland for Paris, France, never to return. Szulc makes Chopin's tumultuous relationship with George Sand fun to read about, and is very informative with excerpts from Chopin's letters and many other sources. A little time is devoted to each year of his life (approximately 2 chapters-ish) discussing the music Chopin composed in that year. A very fun book to read if you are interested in knowing a little bit more about one of the greatest composers in history!

Wikipedia was better
Allow me to preface the review by saying that I am a frequent reader (...meaning not illiterate...), and someone who despises the Sparknotes/Wikipedia/etc summary-culture that's so popular in today's (my own!) generation.


With that being said, I learned just as much about Chopin from the Wikipedia article, and in far less time, with far less hair-pulling boredom!


My first complaint is that the book is called "CHOPIN IN PARIS." Why not spend some more time talking about Chopin? I did not want a biography on George Sand, but at one point I skimmed/skipped over an entire chapter, and frequently throughout the rest of the book would skip up to 4-5 pages at a time. Szulc continually spends an excessive amount of time talking about people that Chopin knew, and giving such an amount of detail on their lives that I might even call some of these passages miniature biographies! The book was NOT titled "The Lives of Fryderyk Chopin and George Sand" (or a number of his other close friends), but CHOPIN in Paris. CHOPIN. Talk about CHOPIN, please!

Understandably, it is "The Life and TIMES..." and I do appreciate understanding his relationships, but I really don't care where or when George Sand was born or what her favorite color was! Did he actually tell us her favorite color! I don't remember because I was in such a haze from his incessant detailing!



Which brings me to my next complaint. It doesn't matter whether Szulc is talking about Chopin or anybody else, he just doesn't know how to get to the point! The biography is incredibly well detailed, and he's put no doubt in our minds that he has done his homework on the subject. I don't want his notes, however, I want a well-written life story of Chopin. The details that are included are often times unnecessary, and so much information is included that a haze develops, the eyes of the reader gloss over, and a nap is soon more desirable than reading about this legendary composer!






At a certain point, I concluded that Szulc must have been paid by the word on this book. My prize evidence to this is his frequent interjections into long quotes. He may introduce a letter ("Fryderyk wrote..." or something to that effect), and then include 3 paragraphs from a letter. But for no apparent reason, will include little phrases halfway through, such as, "He continued..."
I KNOW THAT HE CONTINUNED. IT IS PART OF THE SAME LETTER. I HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN WHAT I AM READING ALREADY.


The writing style (with the above complaint as an example) frequently reminds me of high school essays. His little comments, introductions of material, interjections, and unnecessary personal comments always bring me back to the formulas and required stylizing, along with underdeveloped personal thought and style, of high school research writing.






The book is well researched, and that is its sole redeeming quality. And the depth of information one learns about Chopin is no further than the well-documented Wikipedia entry. That sure says something, that Szulc spends 400 pages teaching us what would be better said in 5! It is excessively wordy, excessively detailed, and unbelievably unfocused. I finished it only out of spite to this uninspired writer. As a lover of Chopin's music, I wished to learn more about the man, and forced myself to the end...but with a bitter hatred for Szulc's writing.

The praise for his other biographies (Pope John Paul II and Fidel Castro), quoted on the back cover, from publications such as the New York Times, has caused me to lose respect for those publications! That they would speak so highly of a writer who would produce such garbage, speaks very lowly of them!

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. ... Read more

Product Description
This new volume 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: Prelude in A-flat Major, Nocturne in C-sharp minor, Nocturne in C minor, and Waltzes in A-flat Major, E-flat Major, E-flat Major, and A minor. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Good Chopin collection for the price
I am glad I got this set of Chopin.It would get a 5 star review, however, if it had a spiral binding as the pages are hard to keep open.

Ghastly - invest in the Henle Urtext
Oh, dear - Schirmer? I know it's big and has a lot of music, but serious pianists never buy Schirmer. Ever. When I was teaching, I never allowed my students to purchase Schirmer. Henle Urtext is the best and for something as important as learning to play Chopin, I strongly recommend investing in Henle Urtext.

I know Henle is expensive, but if one is a serious pianist and certainly if one is studying music in college, Schirmer editions can actually interfere with their learning to play and interpret Chopin properly. Henle is best - if you feel you just can't afford it, get Kalmus. But never Schirmer.

classical piano revived by new music
WONDERFUL TO GET THESE CHOPIN PRELUDES,NOCTURNES,AND WALTZS IN NEW CONDITION BECAUSE MINE ARE 50 YEARS OLD.I LOVE THEM ALL. SANDRA

Wonderful Compilation!
I and a college student majoring in music with a focus in piano, and this book is fantastic! I can't wait to get started in it! The printing is clean and easy to read - no overlapping notes, or heavy ink on the pages. The spine is thicker than a usual piano book, but it creases easily allowing the book to stay open on the music stand. And it's Chopin . . . what else can I say!

Beautifully done
This book is perfect for any Chopin lover. It stays true to the master's original transcription, just how each nocturne and prelude is supposed to sound. Perfect for all players of sufficient skill. I especially love the design of the book's spine, which bends on itself to allow the book a fully opened posture so that it doesn't automatically close back on itself-- a problem plaguing other books of Chopin. I heartily recommend this book and any in its series to any pianist who would appreciate Chopin's beautiful compositions. ... Read more

Product Description
Presents a biography of Frédéric Chopin ... Read more

Product Description
THE years are marching toward the three-quarters of a century mark since the Polish composer, Frederic-Francois Chopin, died at Paris in 1S49. As immortality goes nowadays his is a considerable one for a pianoforte composer. Music is an evanescent art. The idol of yesterday is stale today. Notwithstanding the enormous repertoire of the keyboard, more than half is become purely academic: music taught, played by students. The professional virtuoso is more limited in his selections for public performance than we like to believe: Bach to Liszt, with a Beethoven sonata as piece de resistance; and Chopin-always Chopin, whether his poetry is apprehended by the pianist or not; Chopin is the inevitable name that figures at every successful recital. All-Chopin programmes fill concert halls. Thanks to this the old Chopin is gone for most of us. It is not that he is played too often, but that he is badly, sadly played. Nevertheless, lie holds his own, and not Debu

About the Publisher

Forgotten Books is a publisher of historical writings, such as: Philosophy, Classics, Science, Religion, History, Folklore and Mythology.

Forgotten Books' Classic Reprint Series utilizes the latest technology to regenerate facsimiles of historically important writings. Careful attention has been made to accurately preserve the original format of each page whilst digitally enhancing the difficult to read text. Read books online for free at www.forgottenbooks.org ... Read more

Product Description
One of the most respected editions of Chopin’s works was prepared by Carl Mikuli, Chopin’s student and teaching assistant. His editorial contributions to this volume reflect his understanding of the principles imparted to him in word and deed by the composer.The 20 nocturnes reproduced here include Opp. 9, 15, 27, 32, 37, 48, 55, 62, 72, and the posthumous Nocturne in C-sharp Minor. The 11 polonaises include Opp. 26, 40, 44, 53, 61,71, and the posthumous Polonaise in G-sharp Minor.Serious pianists will want to have these authoritative texts of 31 of Chopin’s most popular and enduring works, reprinted from an authoritative early edition. New unified table of contents.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Nocturnes and Polonaises
I purchased this book along with The Essential Collection: Rachmaninoff Gold (Music Sales America) and overall I think this is a better book, with complete versions of all of Chopin's Nocturnes and eleven out of his sixteen Polonaises, each written clearly and with decent fingering. One complaint I have though is that the pages wrinkle easily, and the paper doesn't appear to be the thickest, although I think it will hold up well. The songs in this book range from slow and melancholy nocturnes to energetic and joyful polonaises. Overall I believe this would be a great book to own for any pianist.

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. ... Read more

Product Description
A collection of advanced piano solos by Frederic Chopin. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Awesome Edition - Lays flat and easy to read
This edition is awesome. It has a plastic spiral that lets the book open and lay flat, and in comparison to books without it this feature is definitely better.

The measures are numbered and they are spaced evenly throughout the pages. There is no crowding of notes and footnotes are kept at the bottom. The font and note color is big and black too.

Overall this takes the cake because Chopin's Polonaises are virtuosic works, so the edition must be as clear to understand as possible.

I only wish that Alfred publishing would make more complete editions like this of other artists such as Beethoven and Debussy. In any case this edition is superior to the Schirmer editons.

Chopin's Polonaises
This is a beautiful edition for the price.Notes are easy to read and its an urtext version, too.A rare find for less than half the price of similar editions. ... Read more

Product Description
Mazurkas ... 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

Product Description
Known as a "pianist's composer," Chopin's love, passion and devotion to piano music resulted in over 200 compositions. This collection contains the more accessible pieces which still have vivid melodies and lush harmonies. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Wonderful Introduction to Chopin pieces
I am an adult taking piano lessons for almost 4 years now (in December).I enjoy this book tremendously.I will be playing the Waltz in A minor later this October for my level 6 syllabus along with Bach Invention 1 and Satie Gymnopedie 1.Chopin pieces are challenging to learn but so lovely to listen to and the accomplishment feeling was just so great. This book is just perfect as an introductory to Chopin (I think these pieces are start at level 6 and up).There are so many beautiful pieces that I wish I can play right now, but I'm not good enough yet (hopefully, in a few more years :)). Nocturne in C minor (I love this one), Waltz in B minor, Preludes, Polonaise and Mazurka... just little taste of everything from Chopin... and they are all great pieces.
If you are serious about learning piano and want to progress, I really strongly encourage to take piano lessons from a teacher because his/her experience can help you learn to play so much faster and importantly, the right way.I have learned so much from my piano teacher and it would be impossible for me to even get anywhere if I was self taught.It is hard work and commitment, but just keep on learning, you will be happy you did.Play on:)

Excellent introduction to Chopin's piano music
As a piano teacher I am always searching for collections that are user
friendly for my students. This collection contains shorter works, in their original form, with accurate detail and editorial suggestions
as to interpretation.I would recommend this book to everyone wanting
a first time introduction to Chopin's most famous works!

Almost perfectChopin
Alas, the last waltz suffered two cuts.
Well, 18 whole pieces out of nineteen is almost perfect.

Good Review of Chopin Style
This is an interesting piece of work. It has a good overview of the composition style Frederick Chopin, i.e. technical analysis. Then selected works (scores) are presented. This is all backed up with a CD of the works being discussed. A nice progression from just listening to the music itself. Also, very good value for the money.

Thebest of chopin is not here!
I was disappointed as the most famous pieces of chopin are not here. I did not like or feel compelled to play any of the musics of this book. Of course I understand that the best pieces of chopin are hard to play, but I am sure there are some easy/medium ones like preludes that are not here. ... Read more

Product Description
In this edition, Palmer provides fingering and offers suggestions for the performance of ornaments and other markings as revealed through the study of original sources. The introductory material includes a helpful discussion of ornamentation in Chopin's music. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great
This edition of Chopin's Ballades is great. Notes are printed clearly. Fingerings are not confusing. Ballades are quite difficult so this book is suitable for late-intermediate to advanced pianists. ... Read more

Product Description
The nocturnes (night pieces) are among the most introspective and personal of Chopin's works, as he was influenced by John Field's pieces of the same title. This complete collection of the nocturnes includes a useful thematic index and footnotes citing the differences between the manuscripts and the first editions. The pedaling, tempos and other musical markings are Chopin's. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Well Worth the Money
I bought this music because I have it on my ipod played by Ashkenazy. Oh that I could play like Vladimir! At any rate, this is some of the most beautiful music ever written and the book is very well done indeed. It includes all of the nocturnes and is quite easy to read. Since there are a total of 128 pages, it is very nice to have the coiled binder. The book lies at the keyboard very well and will probably last longer than books without that kind of binder. I recommend this music and this particular edition highly.

Exactly what I was looking for
Chopin's nocturnes are some of my favorite pieces of classical music, so I've wanted to have them to play for a while now. This was the only book that I saw on Amazon that is limited to just his nocturnes. It includes all of his nocturnes, including those published posthumously, which was key for me since C# minor was the piece that introduced me to his work.

Other than that, the way this book is bound is great. The pages turn easily and it stays open to the current page without any assistance. Some, if not all, of these pieces can be quite challenging to play, but if you feel up to his level of difficulty, I highly recommend this collection of his work.

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

Product 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

Customer Reviews (15)

A must-buy!

The last Thursday August 17, I mean three days ago, I received in quality of gift of an admired colleague who has in common with me,the love for music and literature -Mario Flores- this splendid bio about Chopin.

Kleczynski undertook a sincere, exciting and well detailed information about Chopin, the musician, the man and the artist he was.Concise, descriptive andpoetically written, this book will lead us through the life and times of Fredric Chopin the most admirable poet of the musical Romanticism.

Acquire it and try to send it as a gift especially in this bicentennial year of this unforgettable genius of the music.

Write your own rules.
This is a highly informative book on Chopin's advice on the art of playing piano.Especially interesting and revealing to me is Chopin's firm belief in complete suppleness and weightlessness in the hands/wrists while playing.After working at applying this principle to my own playing I have begun to notice how much harder I have been making piano playing than it truly needs to be.My desire to improvise has also grown and I am much more attentive to playing a PHRASE as apposed to playing notes.Their is much in this book that will give you a picture of just the type of man Frederic Chopin truly was.When you analyze the times and the styles of playing popular at that time it is hard not to come to the conclusion that Chopin really went against the grain of where piano playing/teaching stood then.In the compositions he left us with seems to be the very foundation of where the piano stands as an instrument still to this day.Chopin wrote his own rules as much as ANY other composer before or since and in my own opinion his music is as alive and fresh as it was back then.I highly recommend this book even if you are not planning to learn any of Chopin's works because it just might help you to realize the musician in yourself to an extent that you did not think possible before.Write your own rules.

Chopin as piano teacher
Very good and comprehensive analysis of Chopin as a pianist and as a piano teacher, I learnt a great deal that I had not known previously about Chopin's piano technique and his virtuosity. More than that though it was very informative about piano playing and teaching in the Romantic era. It appears to have been very well translated by Naomi SHOHET.
Well worth buying and reading.
Nigel Jackson

Not worth it
This book is just a cut and paste from other publications by and about Chopin. If you want to learn someething about piano playing this will deliver suggestions but with a horrible choppy cadence. If you want to learn more about Chopin you won't find it here. This book is tedious and I'm sorry I bought it.

Lessons with Chopin
What can be better than taking lessons with Chopin? This book is very objective. The sources were his students' letters and the chapters are very well-organised.
The higher the level you are in playing piano/music, the more you get. ... Read more

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